15 Facts on H2SO4 + NH4NO3 What, How to Balance & FAQs

The H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is a reaction between a strong acid and an acidic salt. Let us discuss brief details on H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction below.

H₂SO₄ is a chemical formula of sulfuric acid which is a strong acid, while NH₄NO₃ is an acidic salt. NH₄NO₃ is a chemical formula of ammonium nitrate which is ammonium salt formed from nitric acid. H₂SO₄ contains 2 H, 1 S, and 4 O atoms. NH₄NO₃ contains 2 N, 4 H, and 3 O atoms.

Let us discuss the balanced equation of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃, its type, titration, intermolecular force, reaction enthalpy, is it a conjugate pair or not, net ionic equation, and many more facts and some FAQs on H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ chemical reaction.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃?

The product of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is ammonium sulfate or mascagnite [(NH₄)₂SO₄] and nitric acid [HNO₃].

• H₂SO₄ + 2 NH₄NO₃ = (NH₄)₂SO₄ + 2 HNO₃

What type of reaction is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃?

The H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is a thermal decomposition reaction. When NH₄NO₃ reacts with H₂SO₄ it can be explosive and increase the reaction solution’s temperature.

How to balance H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃?

The steps to balance H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction are given below:

• The unbalanced H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction is
• H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ = (NH₄)₂SO₄ + HNO₃
• We can see that LHS is not equal to RHS
• First, multiply the NH₄NO₃ by 2 on LHS we get
• H₂SO₄ + 2 NH₄NO₃ = (NH₄)₂SO₄ + HNO₃
• Second, multiply the HNO₃ by 2 on RHS we get
• H₂SO₄ + 2 NH₄NO₃ = (NH₄)₂SO₄ + 2 HNO₃
• Thus, in the above equation, all the elements present in LHS are equal to RHS. Hence the equation is balanced.

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ titration

The titration for H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction is explained in the given below steps:

Materials:

• 1 gram ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃)
• 30 ml sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄)
• Beaker 100 ml
• Measuring cylinder 100 ml
• Water bath
• Thermometer
• Burner

Procedure:

• 1 gram of NH₄NO₃ was added to 30 ml of H₂SO₄.
• The solution gets immediately heated in a water bath.
• The thermometer was used to maintain the temperature of the water bath assembly.
• The nitrogen gas first evaporated and was collected.
• The reaction first formed nitrous oxide.
• On further heating the reaction, there is the formation of nitric acid in more amounts with diazanium sulfate.

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ net ionic equation

The net ionic equation for H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ chemical reaction is as follows:

2 NH₄⁺ + SO₄^2- → (NH₄)₂SO₄

• 2NH₄NO₃ (s) + H₂SO₄ (l) → (NH₄)₂SO₄ (s) + 2HNO₃ (l)
• 2 NH₄⁺ + 2 NO₃^–  + 2 H⁺ + SO₄^2- → (NH₄)₂SO₄ (s) + 2 H⁺ + 2 NO₃^–
• Cancel out the similar ions from both the LHS and RHS, and we get,
• 2 NH₄⁺ + SO₄^2- → (NH₄)₂SO₄
• The 2 NO₃^– and 2 H⁺ ions get canceled on both sides.

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ conjugate pairs

The conjugate pair of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction is given below:

• H₂SO₄ acid can acts as a conjugate base by donating its proton and forming HSO₄^2-.
• NH₄NO₃ acid can acts as a conjugate acid by forming ammonium ion NH₄⁺ and NO₃^– is not acidic and basic in nature.

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ intermolecular forces

The intermolecular force between H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ is as follows:

• H₂SO₄ has intermolecular forces hydrogen bonding, dispersion forces, and dipole-dipole intermolecular force.
• Both the H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ are polar compounds and have dipole-dipole interaction.
• The H atom on NH₄NO₃ attracts the lone pair electrons on the O atom of H₂SO₄ due to it has dipole-dipole interaction.

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy for H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ chemical reaction is -205.61 kJ/mol.

• The enthalpy of the formation of H₂SO₄ is -814 kJ/mol.
• The enthalpy of the formation of NH₄NO₃ is -367.57 kJ/mol.
• The enthalpy of the formation of (NH₄)₂SO₄ is -1180.9 kJ/mol.
• The enthalpy of the formation of HNO₃ is -206.28 kJ/mol.
• The Reaction enthalpy (∆H) of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ = Enthalpy of product – enthalpy of reactant, we get,
• (∆H) of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is = -1181.57 kJ/mol – (-1387.18) kJ/mol
• (∆H) of H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is = -205.61 kJ/mol.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ a buffer solution?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is not a buffer solution. H₂SO₄ is a strong acid and is not able to form a buffer solution. Buffer solution only forms between weak acid and weak base or its conjugate acid or base. H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ is not weak acid and base and cannot create buffer solution.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ a complete reaction?

The H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is not a complete reaction. It cannot form an equilibrium. There are two reactants and two products in this reaction. Thus, it cannot form an equilibrium and is an incomplete reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ an exothermic or endothermic reaction?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is an endothermic reaction. When NH₄NO₃ gets added to H₂SO₄ the reaction temperature gets increases and produces toxic fumes of nitric acid.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ a redox reaction?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is not a redox reaction.

• The oxidation number of S in H₂SO₄ is +6.
• The oxidation number of N in NH₄NO₃ is -3 and +5.
• The oxidation number of in (NH₄)₂SO₄ N is -3 and S is +6.
• The oxidation number of N in HNO₃ is +5.
• This shows that there is no change in oxidation numbers of the reactant and product of the H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction and is not a redox reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ a precipitation reaction?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is a precipitation reaction. When NH₄NO₃ is added to H₂SO₄ it undergoes a thermal decomposition reaction and forms a white precipitate of (NH₄)₂SO₄ salt.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reversible or irreversible reaction?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is an irreversible reaction. The reactants H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ can form the product (NH₄)₂SO₄ and HNO₃, but the products (NH₄)₂SO₄ and HNO₃ on treated with each other cannot form the H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ when reacted.

Is H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ displacement reaction?

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ is a displacement reaction. The molecules of reactants H₂SO₄ and NH₄NO₃ get displaced to form a product that undergoes a displacement reaction.

Conclusion:

H₂SO₄ + NH₄NO₃ reaction has the products (NH₄)₂SO₄ and HNO₃. It is a thermal decomposition reaction and forms precipitates. It is not a redox reaction as the oxidation number of the reactant does not change after forming the products. It has dipole-dipole interaction and an endothermic reaction.

Dr. Shruti Ramteke

Hello everyone, I am Dr. Shruti M Ramteke, I did my Ph.D. in chemistry. I am passionate about writing and like to share my knowledge with others . Feel free to contact me on linkedin