While performing an activity in the lab (i) student mixed solid ammoni...
Gas Evolved: Ammonia gas (NH3)
Nature of Reaction: Ammonium chloride (NH4Cl) is a salt composed of ammonium ions (NH4+) and chloride ions (Cl-). When solid ammonium chloride is mixed with water in a beaker, it undergoes a chemical reaction called dissociation or ionization. The reaction can be represented by the following equation:
NH4Cl (s) + H2O (l) → NH4+ (aq) + Cl- (aq)
The reaction is an endothermic process, which means it requires energy from the surroundings to proceed. As a result, the temperature of the beaker drops significantly, reaching approximately -20°C.
Explanation:
1. Dissociation of Ammonium Chloride: When solid ammonium chloride is mixed with water, the polar water molecules interact with the ionic lattice of ammonium chloride. The positive ends of water molecules (hydrogen atoms) attract the chloride ions (Cl-) while the negative ends (oxygen atoms) attract the ammonium ions (NH4+). This leads to the separation of the ions from the solid lattice.
2. Formation of Ammonia Gas: The ammonium ions (NH4+) and chloride ions (Cl-) in the aqueous solution are now free to move independently. The ammonium ions can further react with water molecules through a process called hydrolysis. This hydrolysis reaction produces ammonia gas (NH3) and a hydronium ion (H3O+). The reaction can be represented as follows:
NH4+ (aq) + H2O (l) → NH3 (g) + H3O+ (aq)
The ammonia gas is volatile and escapes from the solution in the form of gas bubbles.
3. Temperature Drop: The dissociation of ammonium chloride in water is an endothermic reaction. It requires energy from the surroundings to break the bonds between the ions in the solid lattice and to separate them from each other. As a result, heat energy is absorbed from the surroundings, leading to a decrease in temperature in the beaker. The temperature drop is a direct consequence of the energy requirement for the dissociation of the solid.
In conclusion, when solid ammonium chloride is mixed with water, it undergoes dissociation, releasing ammonia gas and causing a significant drop in temperature due to the endothermic nature of the reaction.
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