Question

On heating, $NaN{O_3}$ gives:
(This question has multiple correct options)
\[
  A.{\text{ }}{O_2} \\
  B.{\text{ }}N{O_2} \\
  C.{\text{ }}{O_2} + N{O_2} \\
  D.{\text{ }}NaN{O_2} \\
 \]

Answer 1

Hint - On heating sodium nitrate it undergoes decomposition reaction. In order to solve this problem we will see the reaction that the given compound: sodium nitrate undergoes and the product it forms. We will check for the options present to find the answer.

Complete answer:
Heating metal salts in a dry test tube is a tentative way to detect the presence of such radicals (ions) in it. While most metal oxides decompose upon heating, to produce metal oxide and brown colored nitrogen dioxide and oxygen.
Sodium nitrate (and potassium nitrate) upon heating decomposes to produce sodium nitrite and colorless and odourless oxygen gas. This characterizes the colorless oxygen gas as it rekindles a burning wooden splinter. Sodium nitrite (and potassium, naturally) is resistant to heat.
$2NaN{O_3}\left( s \right) \to 2NaN{O_2}\left( s \right) + {O_2}\left( g \right)$
Hence, on heating the compound sodium nitrate or $NaN{O_3}$ it undergoes the decomposition reaction and results in liberating oxygen ${O_2}$ & hence gets convert into the compound sodium nitrite $NaN{O_2}$ .

So, the correct answers are option A and D.

Additional information- Sodium nitrate is a very water soluble, white solid. It is a readily available source of nitrate anion, which is useful for the production of fertilizers, pyrotechnics and smoke bombs, glass and pottery enamels, food preservatives (especially meats) and solid rocket propellants in several reactions carried out on industrial scales. For both reasons, it has been heavily mined.

Note- Sodium nitrate is used as a food preservative and a salt substitute. This is also used in oral goods, explosives, smoke bombs, fertilizers, wastewater disposal, components for energy storage, and propellants for solid rockets. Sodium nitrite is an inorganic sodium salt used as an antimicrobial food preservative, an antihypertensive agent, a food antioxidant, a poison and an antidote to cyanide poisoning.