Question

What is the balanced equation for ammonium carbonate is heated, it decomposes into ammonia gas, carbon dioxide gas, and water vapor?

Answer 1

The reactions that describe the decomposition of ammonium carbonate (`(NH_4)_2CO_3`) are:

`(NH_4)_2CO_3(s) -> NH_4HCO_(3(s)) + NH_(3(g))` (1)
`NH_4HCO_(3(s)) -> NH_(3(g)) + H_2O_((g)) + CO_(2(g))` (2)

`(NH_4)_2CO_3(s) -> 2NH_(3(g)) + CO_(2(g)) + H_2O_((g))` (3)

(1) - ammonium carbonate decomposes into ammonium bicarbonate and ammonia (`NH_3`);
(2) - ammonium bicarbonate decomposes into carbon dioxide (`CO_2`), water, and ammonia;
(3) - the decomposition of ammonium carbonate - total reaction;

Both reaction are endothermic - heat must be supplied in order for the reaction to take place.

Here's a video of the reaction: