JAMB Chemistry 2020 Paper

Concept:Ammonium trioxonitrate(V) $\mathrm{NH}_{4}\mathrm{NO}_{3}$ decomposes on heating to form dinitrogen(I) oxide (nitrous oxide) and steam.Explanation:Ammonium trioxonitrate(V) is an unusual salt because its thermal decomposition does not produce a metal oxide or nitrogen dioxide.Instead, it breaks down into nitrogen(I) oxide and water.The balanced equation for the decomposition is:$$\mathrm{NH}_{4}\mathrm{NO}_{3}(s) \xrightarrow{\Delta} \mathrm{N}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g) + 2\mathrm{H}_{2}\mathrm{O}(g)$$$\mathrm{N}_{2}\mathrm{O}$ is nitrogen(I) oxide, also called nitrous oxide or laughing gas.The other product is water, which escapes as steam.Therefore, the products match option A: Nitrogen (I) Oxide and Water.Answer:A. Nitrogen (I) Oxide and Water.