JEE Main · 2022 · 29 Jul 2022 · Shift 1 · s-Block Elements

Lithium nitrate and sodium nitrate, when heated separately, respectively, give :

Answer: (C)

Solution

Lithium nitrate decomposes on heating to give lithium oxide:

4 LiNO_{3} \to 2 Li_{2} O + 4 NO_{2} + O_{2}

. Other alkali metal nitrates (including sodium) decompose to give the corresponding nitrite:

2 NaNO_{3} \to 2 NaNO_{2} + O_{2}

. This is due to lithium's small size and high polarizing power.

JEE Main · 2022 · 29 Jul 2022 · Shift 1 · Single correct option