The chemical equation for the formation of ammonia is unbalanced.
[tex]3 H_2(g)+N_2(g) \rightarrow NH_3(g)[/tex]
If three molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of nitrogen, how many molecules of ammonia would be formed?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 4
Answer (2)
Balance the chemical equation for the formation of ammonia: 3 H 2 ( g ) + N 2 ( g ) → 2 N H 3 ( g ) .
Determine the number of ammonia molecules formed based on the balanced equation.
Three molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of nitrogen to produce two molecules of ammonia.
Therefore, the number of ammonia molecules formed is 2 .
Explanation
Analyzing the Unbalanced Equation The chemical equation provided is unbalanced: 3 H 2 ( g ) + N 2 ( g ) → N H 3 ( g ) . To determine the number of ammonia molecules formed, we first need to balance the equation.
Balancing the Equation To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation. The balanced equation is: 3 H 2 ( g ) + N 2 ( g ) → 2 N H 3 ( g ) . This means that 3 molecules of hydrogen react with 1 molecule of nitrogen to produce 2 molecules of ammonia.
Determining the Number of Ammonia Molecules Based on the balanced equation, if three molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of nitrogen, 2 molecules of ammonia will be formed.
Examples
In the Haber-Bosch process, nitrogen and hydrogen are directly combined on an iron catalyst at high temperature and pressure to synthesize ammonia. Balancing chemical equations, like in this problem, is crucial for optimizing the production of ammonia, which is a key component in fertilizers. Understanding the stoichiometry allows engineers to determine the precise amounts of reactants needed to maximize ammonia yield, making the process economically efficient and environmentally sustainable.
The balanced equation for the formation of ammonia is 3 H_2(g) + N_2(g) → 2 NH_3(g). From this, we can conclude that three molecules of hydrogen react with one molecule of nitrogen to produce two molecules of ammonia. Therefore, the answer is B. 2.
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