Question

Assertion: An aqueous solution $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ is acidic in nature.
Reason: $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ in aqueous solution undergoes anionic hydrolysis.
A.Both assertion and reason are correct and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
B.Both assertion and reason are correct but reason is not the correct explanation of assertion.
C.Assertion is correct but reason is incorrect.
D.Assertion is incorrect but reason is correct.

Answer 1

Hint: $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ is a chemical compound which is white in colour and crystalline in state. It is ammonium salt of nitric acid and it is a salt of weak base and strong acid and such salts undergo cationic hydrolysis and thus their aqueous solutions are thereby, more acidic in nature.

Complete answer:
Ammonium nitrate is a chemical compound which is white in colour in crystalline form consisting of ions of ammonium and nitrate. It has a molecular formula of $N{H_4}N{O_3}$. It is an ammonium salt of nitric acid and is highly explosive and has ammonium cation and nitrate anion. It is used for agricultural purposes due to its nitrogen content thus; it is used as high nitrogen containing fertilizers and pesticides. It is used as an oxidizing agent which is safe when is stored properly without any contamination from fuels which makes it dangerous.

If the temperature increases rapidly in the place where $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ is stored then it may explode on its own. This happens because with time ammonium nitrate absorbs moisture and on being exposed to intense heat, this compacted compound breaks out and burns resulting in an explosion.

Ammonium nitrate is easily soluble in water. It makes the beaker cold as the reaction between water and ammonium nitrate is an endothermic reaction which makes the beaker where the reaction is conducted cool. When $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ is added to water, the concentration of ${H_3}{O^ + }$ increases and thus, the solution becomes acidic. Thus, when a cation or anion or both present in a salt react with water and produce acidic content in the solution then the process is known as cationic hydrolysis.
So according to the given question we know that $N{H_4}N{O_3}$ is a salt of weak base and strong acid thus, it will undergo cationic hydrolysis and its aqueous solution is acidic in nature.

Thus, we conclude that option (C) is correct that Assertion is correct but reason is incorrect.

Note:
Ammonium nitrate is obtained by preparing a solution of ammonium nitrate by reacting preheated ammonia with nitric acid using a neutralizer. During the reaction, heat is produced and this heat is utilised for the evaporation process which yields some percentage of ammonium nitrate solution. This concentrated solution is further concentrated with the help of a vacuum concentrator to obtain more percentage of the solution.