The bomb that destroyed tje Murrah Federal Office Building in Oklahoma City in April 1995 was constructed from ordinary materials: fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) and fiel oil (a mixture of long-chain hydrocarbons, similar to decane, C10H22). Calculate the total enthalpy (delta H, in kJ) when 11.40 grams of ammonium nitrate (NH4NO3, 80.04 g/mol) reacts according to the following reaction. 3NH4 NO3(s) + C10H22 (l) + 14O2 (g) → 3N2(g) 17 H2O (g) + 10CO2 (g)

ΔH⁰(11.4g NH₄NO₃) = -30.59Kj (4 sig. figs. ~mass of  NH₄NO₃(s) given) (exothermic)

Explanation:

           3NH₄NO₃(s) + C₁₀H₂₂(l) + 14O₂(g) => 3N₂(g)  +  17H₂O(g)   +  10CO₂(g)

ΔH⁰(f):  3(-365.6)Kj     1(-301)Kj    14(0)Kj       3(0)Kj    17(-241.8)Kj    10(-393.5)Kj

            = -1096.8Kj     = -301Kj     = 0Kj         = 0Kj      = -4110.6Kj    = -3930.5Kj

ΔHₙ°(rxn) = ∑ (ΔH˚(f)products) - ∑(ΔH˚(f)reactants)

= [3(0)Kj + 17(-241.8)Kj + (-393.5)Kj] - [(-(1096.8)Kj + (-301)Kj + (0)Kj]

= [-(8041.1) - (-1397.8)]Kj

= -6643.3Kj (for 3 moles NH₄NO₃ used in above equation)  

∴ Standard Heat of Rxn = -6643.3Kj/3moles = -214.8Kj/mole NH₄NO₃(s)

ΔH°(rxn for 14.11g  NH₄NO₃(s)) = (11.4g/80.04g·mol⁻¹)(-214.8Kj/mol) = 30.5937Kj ≅ 30.59Kj (4 sig. figs. ~mass of  NH₄NO₃(s) given)