Molar Mass of Ammonium Perchlorate

Oct 13, 2025 by talynt.org 146 views

Ammonium Perchlorate: A Key Component in Rocket Propulsion

Ammonium perchlorate is a crucial component in the production of rocket propellants. It is a highly energetic oxidizer that, when combined with a fuel, such as hydrazine or hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene (HTPB), produces a high thrust-to-weight ratio. In this article, we will explore the molar mass of ammonium perchlorate and calculate the amount of water it should produce during a rocket launch.

Molar Mass of Ammonium Perchlorate

The molar mass of a compound is the sum of the atomic masses of its constituent elements. To calculate the molar mass of ammonium perchlorate, we need to know the atomic masses of nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), chlorine (Cl), and oxygen (O).

The atomic masses of these elements are:

Nitrogen (N): 14.01 g/mol
Hydrogen (H): 1.01 g/mol
Chlorine (Cl): 35.45 g/mol
Oxygen (O): 16.00 g/mol

The chemical formula for ammonium perchlorate is NH4ClO4. To calculate its molar mass, we need to sum the atomic masses of its constituent elements:

Molar mass of NH4ClO4 = (14.01 g/mol) + (4 * 1.01 g/mol) + (35.45 g/mol) + (4 * 16.00 g/mol) Molar mass of NH4ClO4 = 14.01 g/mol + 4.04 g/mol + 35.45 g/mol + 64.00 g/mol Molar mass of NH4ClO4 = 117.50 g/mol

Calculating the Amount of Water Produced

During a rocket launch, the ammonium perchlorate reacts with the fuel to produce water and other products. The reaction is as follows:

NH4ClO4 + 3H2 → 4H2O + 3HCl

From the reaction equation, we can see that one mole of ammonium perchlorate produces four moles of water. To calculate the amount of water produced, we need to know the number of moles of ammonium perchlorate used.

The mass of ammonium perchlorate used in a typical rocket is 500,000 kg. To convert this to moles, we need to divide it by the molar mass of ammonium perchlorate:

Number of moles of NH4ClO4 = mass of NH4ClO4 / molar mass of NH4ClO4 Number of moles of NH4ClO4 = 500,000 kg / 117.50 g/mol Number of moles of NH4ClO4 = 4,269,000 mol

Since one mole of ammonium perchlorate produces four moles of water, the total number of moles of water produced is:

Number of moles of H2O = 4 * number of moles of NH4ClO4 Number of moles of H2O = 4 * 4,269,000 mol Number of moles of H2O = 17,076,000 mol

To convert this to grams, we need to multiply it by the molar mass of water:

Mass of H2O = number of moles of H2O * molar mass of H2O Mass of H2O = 17,076,000 mol * 18.02 g/mol Mass of H2O = 306,911,000 g

Therefore, the amount of water produced during a rocket launch using 500,000 kg of ammonium perchlorate is approximately 306,911,000 grams.

In conclusion, the molar mass of ammonium perchlorate is 117.50 g/mol. Using this value, we calculated the amount of water produced during a rocket launch using 500,000 kg of ammonium perchlorate. The result is approximately 306,911,000 grams of water. This calculation highlights the importance of understanding the chemical properties of rocket propellants and the reactions that occur during a launch.