Question

Explain, giving one simple example of the following chemical changes

Decomposition

Answer 1

Decomposition reaction:

• It is a chemical reaction in which a chemical compound decomposes to give two or more new substances.
• Usually decomposition reactions require external agents like heat, light, electricity, etc.
• For example decomposition of mercuric oxide$\left(\mathrm{HgO}\right)$ is thermal decomposition i.e it is the decomposition reaction that is brought about by heat, resulting in the formation of mercury$\left(\mathrm{Hg}\right)$ and oxygen gas$\left({\mathrm{O}}_2\right)$
• $\underset{\mathrm{mercuric}\mathrm{oxide}}{2\mathrm{HgO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}\stackrel{∆}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{mercury}}{2\mathrm{Hg}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$