What type of compound is NH4NO3?
The correct answer and explanation is:
NH4NO3 is an ionic compound known as ammonium nitrate. It consists of two ions: the ammonium ion (NH4⁺) and the nitrate ion (NO3⁻).
Ammonium nitrate forms when the ammonium ion, which is a positively charged polyatomic ion, combines with the nitrate ion, a negatively charged polyatomic ion. These ions attract each other due to opposite electrical charges, resulting in an ionic bond. The ionic bond is the electrostatic force that holds the positively charged ammonium ions and the negatively charged nitrate ions together in a lattice structure.
Ammonium nitrate is classified as an ionic compound rather than a molecular compound because it is composed of ions rather than neutral molecules. Molecular compounds are formed by covalent bonds, where atoms share electrons. In contrast, ionic compounds like ammonium nitrate form from the electrostatic attraction between ions of opposite charge.
Despite being ionic, ammonium nitrate contains covalent bonds within each polyatomic ion. For example, within the ammonium ion (NH4⁺), nitrogen and hydrogen atoms are bonded covalently. Similarly, in the nitrate ion (NO3⁻), nitrogen and oxygen atoms are covalently bonded. However, the interaction between NH4⁺ and NO3⁻ ions is ionic.
Ammonium nitrate is highly soluble in water due to its ionic nature, which allows it to dissociate into ammonium and nitrate ions when dissolved. This property makes it useful as a fertilizer because plants can absorb these ions as nutrients. It is also widely used in explosives and industrial applications because it releases a large amount of energy upon decomposition.
In summary, NH4NO3 is an ionic compound composed of the ammonium ion and nitrate ion bonded through ionic attraction. It combines covalent bonding within ions and ionic bonding between them, resulting in a compound with unique chemical and physical properties.