Question

Give one example each of the various kinds of decomposition reactions.

Answer 1

Types of decomposition reactions:

1. The decomposition reactions are a type of reactions in which energy is provided to a substance to break/decompose it into 2 or more substances.
2. These are a type of endothermic reactions, i.e., energy/heat is absorbed by these reactions.
3. There are three types of decomposition reactions: thermolysis, photolysis, and electrolysis.
4. Thermolysis – in this type of decomposition reaction, a reactant on heating decomposes to products. Example – on heating calcium carbonate we get carbon dioxide and calcium oxide.
5. Photolysis – in photolysis decomposition reaction, a reactant gives 2 or more products when light falls on it. Example – silver chloride decomposes to silver and chlorine gas when sunlight falls on it.
6. Electrolysis – in this decomposition reaction, reactant on passing electricity it breaks to products. Example – water decomposes to hydrogen gas and oxygen gas when electricity is passed through it.

1. $CaC{O}_3\stackrel{}{\stackrel{heat}{\to }CaO+C{O}_2}$
2. $2AgCl\stackrel{}{\stackrel{hv}{\to }2Ag+C{l}_2}$
3. $2H_{2}O\stackrel{Electrolysis}{\to }2H_2+O_2$