Question

Ammonium perchlorate, NH4ClO4, is the oxidizer used in the booster rockets of the space shuttle. The booster rocket engines are the two smaller engines positioned on either side of the space shuttle; the main rocket engine is the very large engine positioned under the shuttle.

When NH4ClO4 (s) decomposes thermally, the products of the reaction are N2(g), O2(g), H2O(g), and HCl(g). Write the balanced equation (including phases) for this reaction.

Express the answer as a chemical equation.

Answer 1

We have to balance :

NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + O₂(g) + H₂O(g) + HCl(g)

lets try to balance hydrogen atom first

NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + O₂(g) + H₂O(g) + 2HCl(g)

chlorine

2NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + O₂(g) + H₂O(g) + 2HCl(g)

oxygen

2NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + 3O₂(g) + 2H₂O(g) + 2HCl(g)

nitrogen is already balanced

now see if atoms in reactant = atoms in products

no hydrogen is not balanced, balance it try without affecting Cl atoms

2NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + 3O₂(g) + 3H₂O(g) + 2HCl(g)

oxygen again become unbalanced , balance it

2NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> N₂(g) + 5/2 O₂(g) + 3H₂O(g) + 2HCl(g)

multiply by to remove fraction in O₂

4NH₄ClO₄ (s) --------> 2N₂(g) + 5 O₂(g) + 6H₂O(g) + 4HCl(g)

now all the atoms seems balanced

this is required balanced chemical equation