Year 12s: what will be the first way you research your future options? >>

chemistry

1. In the recent tutorial we calculated that the enthalpy change for the decomposition of nitroglycerine:

4C3H5N3O9(l) → 6N2(g) + 12CO2(g) + 10H2O(l) + O2(g)

was H = -1541.4kJ mol-1. Calculate the amount of energy, ∆U, released by the reaction.

Explain, as specifically as you can why the energy released is larger than the enthalpy change. Does this explain why nitroglycerine decomposes explosively?

Reply 1

emily2401423

it could be to do with the fact that more bonds are made than broken. to be specific, you could draw out the molecules and work out which bonds break and which are made through he reaction.

Hope this helps!