A cold pack consists of an inner pouch containing ammonium nitrate, NH4NO3(s), and an outer pouch of water. Twisting the pack breaks the inner pouch and allows the ammonium nitrate to mix with the water. As the ammonium nitrate dissolves, the temperature of the surroundings decreases. The energy change per mole of ammonium nitrate dissociated is 25.7 kJ.
(a) Classify the reaction as endothermic or exothermic. [ans: endothermic]
(b) Draw a potential energy diagram for the reaction. Label the change in enthalpy.
(c) Write a thermochemical equation for this reaction. [ans: NH4NO3(s) + 25.7 kJ → NH4NO3(aq)]