What is the Percent Composition of Ammonium Nitrate?

To find the percent composition of ammonium nitrate (NH₄NO₃), we first need to determine its molar mass by adding the masses of all the atoms in the formula.

Ammonium nitrate consists of:

• 1 nitrogen (N) from the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺)
• 1 nitrogen (N) from the nitrate ion (NO₃^–)
• 4 hydrogen (H) from the ammonium ion
• 3 oxygen (O) from the nitrate ion

The atomic masses are approximately:

• N: 14.01 g/mol
• H: 1.01 g/mol
• O: 16.00 g/mol

Now, we calculate the molar mass of NH₄NO₃:

• 1 N in NH₄ = 14.01 g/mol
• 1 N in NO₃ = 14.01 g/mol
• 4 H = 4 x 1.01 = 4.04 g/mol
• 3 O = 3 x 16.00 = 48.00 g/mol

Total molar mass = 14.01 + 14.01 + 4.04 + 48.00 = 80.06 g/mol.

Next, we calculate the percent composition of each element:

• Percent of Nitrogen (N): (14.01 g/mol + 14.01 g/mol) / 80.06 g/mol * 100 = 34.91%
• Percent of Hydrogen (H): 4.04 g/mol / 80.06 g/mol * 100 = 5.04%
• Percent of Oxygen (O): 48.00 g/mol / 80.06 g/mol * 100 = 59.05%

In summary, the percent composition of ammonium nitrate is approximately:

• N: 34.91%
• H: 5.04%
• O: 59.05%