CHEMICAL DECOMPOSITION REACTIONS
A decomposition reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more elements or new compounds. These reactions often involve an energy source such as heat, light, or electricity that breaks apart the bonds of compounds.
In the breakdown of a compound into its constituent parts, the generalized reaction for chemical decomposition is
In general,binary compounds(compounds which are composed of two types of elements) decomposes into its constituent elements.
Example
For example mercury oxide is red solid,which on heating decomposes into mercury which is a liquid and oxygen gas.
2HgO(red solid) \(
\to
\) 2Hg(l) + O2(g)
Decomposition reactions happen all aound us,but we often dont notice the
For example,soft drinks have carbonic acid which decompose to give water and carbon di oxide gas.The equation cxan be written as
H2CO3(l) \(
\to
\) H2O(l) + CO2(g)
Carbonic acid \(
\to \) water + carbon dioxide
Another example is the electrolysis of water to the gases hydrogen and oxygen:
It is also called as analysis when single reactant give two elements.
2 H2O(l) \(
\to \) 2 H2(g) + O2(g)
Other examples
CaCO3 \(
\to \) CaO +CO2
PCl5 \(
\to \) PCl3+Cl2
Decomposition reaction takes place in the presence of some energy either sunlight, heat or electricity.