Video Transcript
Which two products are formed from
the initial thermal decomposition of sodium nitrate, NaNO3? (A) Sodium metal and nitrogen
trioxide. (B) Sodium oxide and nitrogen
gas. (C) Sodium nitrite and oxygen
gas. (D) Sodium metal and nitrogen
dioxide. (E) Sodium azide and oxygen
gas.
Thermal decomposition is the
breaking down of a substance when heated to form two or more other substances. Many compounds decompose into two
or more simpler compounds or elements when their temperature is increased.
Sodium nitrate is a solid white
compound that has the chemical formula NaNO3. It thermally decomposes into two
different substances if the temperature is greater than 380 degrees Celsius. One of the products is a
yellow-white solid known as sodium nitrite. The chemical formula of sodium
nitrite is NaNO2. Knowing this allows us to identify
answer choice (C) as the correct answer because it is the only answer choice that
lists sodium nitrite as a product. However, let’s confirm the identity
of the second product of the reaction.
During the decomposition of sodium
nitrate, oxygen gas is also produced. Oxygen gas is a colorless and
odorless gas. Its chemical formula is O2. The complete balanced chemical
equation includes a coefficient of two in front of sodium nitrate and sodium
nitrite.
In conclusion, the two products
that are formed from the initial thermal decomposition of sodium nitrate are sodium
nitrite and oxygen gas, or answer choice (C).