Question

What is a decomposition reaction?

Answer 1

Decomposition reaction is the reaction in which one compound is broken down into two or more simpler compounds.

For example:-

• Decomposition of water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$is as follows:-

$$\begin{gathered} 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Water}\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{Oxygen} \end{gathered}$$

• Decomposition of calcium carbonate $\left({\mathrm{CaCO}}_3\right)$:-

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{CaCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)\to \mathrm{CaO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{carbonate}\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{oxide}\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide} \end{gathered}$$