Question

What type of reaction is: ammonium nitrate -> dinitrogen monoxide + water?

Answer 1

Well it's a comproportionation reaction is it not?

Explanation:

You have got `NH_4*NO_3`, i.e. `N(-III)` and `N(+V)`, and the nitrogens end up with a common oxidation state of `stackrel(+I)N` (individually `N+(II)` and `N(0)`.

`NH_4NO_3 +Delta rarr N_2O + 2H_2O`

For nitrous oxide, `N_2O`, we have a Lewis structure of `N-=stackrel(+)N-stackrel(-)Oharrstackrel(-)N=stackrel(+)N=O`