Question

The detonation (decomposition) of nitroglycerin produces the following carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and water vapor gases. A compositional analysis of nitroglycerin showed that it has 15.87% carbon, 2.22% hydrogen, 18.50% nitrogen and the rest of oxygen, if its empirical formula is the same as the molecular one a) Determine the empirical formula B) Write the balanced equation for the equation

Answer 1

Element	mass	mole	simpest ratio
Carbon	15.87	15.87/12 =1.32	1.32/1.32 = 1
Hydrogen	2.22	2.22/1 => 2.22	2.22/1.32 = 1.68
Nitrogen	18.50	18.5/14 => 1.32	1.32/1.32 = 1
Oxygen	63.41	63.41/16 = 3.96	3.96/1.32 = 3

C :. H : O : N

1: 1.68 : 3: 1

3 : 5 : 9. : 3

Empirical formula = C3H5N3O9

B) balanced chemical reaction

4C3H5N3O9 -----> 12CO2 + 6N2 + O2 + 10 H2O