1. Chemistry
2. Physical Chemistry
3. Energetics and Thermodynamics
4. 13296

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When an explosive is detonated inside a shell or cartridge case, the explosion effectively takes places in a closed or fixed volume container. (The chemical decomposition is fast compared to the rate at which the projectile can gain velocity.) You can make an estimate of the explosion temperature if you assume a constant volume, and if you know the chemical equation for the decomposition and have an estimate of the constant-volume heat capacities of the gases produced by the detonation. The explosive RDX decomposes according to the balanced equation C3H6N6O6 -->3CO + 3H20 + 3N2. Approximate values of C(subscript v) of the product gases are CO = 27 J/mol/K, H20 = 41 J/mol/K, and N2 = 27 J/mol/K. Estimate the explosion temperature of RDX from its detonation energy of -1119 kJ/mol.