Question

The psychoactive drug sold as a methamphetamine - "speed" (c10h15n) - undergoes a series of reactions in the body; the net result of these reactions is the oxidation of solid methamphetamine by oxygen gas to produce carbon dioxide gas, liquid water, and nitrogen gas. what is the coefficient of nitrogen in the balanced equation for the reaction? (balance the equation with the smallest possible whole number coefficients.)

Answer 1

Answer: The coefficient of nitrogen in the given equation is 2.

Explanation: The reaction for the oxidation of methamphentamine with oxygen gas in the body is given by:

$4C_{10}H_{15}N(s)+55O_2(g)\rightarrow 40CO_2(g)+30H_2O(l)+2N_2(g)$

By Stoichiometry,

4 moles of methamphentamine reacts with 55 moles of oxygen gas to produce 40 moles of carbon dioxide gas, 30 moles of water and 2 moles of nitrogen gas.

Coefficient of $C_{10}H_{15}N=4$

Coefficient of $O_2=55$

Coefficient of $CO_2=40$

Coefficient of $H_2O=30$

Coefficient of $N_2=2$

Hence, the coefficient of nitrogen in the given equation is 2.