Crude gunpowders often contain a mixture of potassium nitrate and charcoal (carbon). When such a mixture is heated until reaction occurs, a solid residue of potassium carbonate is produced. The explosive force of the gunpowder comes from the fact that two gases are also produced (carbon dioxide and nitrogen), which increase in volume with great force and speed. Write the unbalanced equation for the process. (Include states-of-matter under the given conditions in your answer.)

Respuesta :

Answer: KNO3(s) + C(s) --> K2CO3 + CO2 + N2

Explanation:

The charge on the potassium ion is +, as potassium is a Group 1 element. So, potassium nitrate is KNO3.

Since carbonate ion is CO3 2-, the formula for potassium carbonate is K2CO3.

The unbalanced equation is:

KNO3(s) + C(s) --> K2CO3 + CO2 + N2

Which leads to the equation

4KNO3(s) + 5C(s) --> 2K2CO3(s) + 3CO2(g) + 2N2(g)