Question

Question: Old-fashioned “smelling salts” consist of ammonium carbonate [(NH₄)₂CO₃]. The reaction for the decomposition of ammonium carbonate

${\left({\mathrm{NH}}_4\right)}_{\mathbf{2}}{\mathbf{CO}}_{\mathbf{3}}\left(s\right)\mathbf{}\mathbf{\to }\mathbf{2}{\mathbf{NH}}_{\mathbf{3}}\left(g\right)\mathbf{+}{\mathbf{CO}}_{\mathbf{2}}\left(g\right)\mathbf{+}{\mathbf{H}}_{\mathbf{2}}\mathbf{O}\left(g\right)$
is endothermic. Would the smell of ammonia increase or decrease as the temperature is increased?

Short answer

The smell of ammonia would increase when the temperature is increased.

Step-by-step solution

Will the reaction shift towards the products or the reactants?

The given decomposition reaction of ammonium carbonate is endothermic. It implies that heat is required from the surroundings.The reaction will shift towards the products while increasing the temperature.

Find the amount of ammonia that changes as it increases or decreases. 

In the given decomposition reaction,ammonia is present on the product side.Heat is considered to be the reactant for an endothermic reaction. Hence, the smell of ammonia would increase with increased temperature.