Question

Contrast the action of heat on the following and explain your answer: $Ca(NO_{3})_{2}$, $NaNO_{3}$.

Answer 1

Heat action on nitrate salts

Most metal nitrates break down to produce metal oxide, oxygen, and nitrogen dioxide.

$Action\quad of\quad heat\quad on\quad Ca(N{ O }_{ 3 }{ ) }_{ 2 }\\ \\2Ca(N{ O }_{ 3 }{ ) }_{ 2 }\quad \xrightarrow { Heat } \quad 2Cao\quad +\quad 4N{ O }_{ 2 }\quad +\quad { O }_{ 2 }$

In the presence of heat calcium nitrate produce calcium oxide.

$Action\quad of\quad heat\quad on\quad NaN{ O }_{ 3 }\\ \\2NaN{ O }_{ 3 }\quad \xrightarrow { Heat } \quad 2NaN{ O }_{ 2 }\quad +\quad { O }_{ 2 }$

In the presence of heat sodium nitrate produce sodium nitrite.