Question

What type of chemical reaction is involved when silver chloride is exposed to light?

Answer 1

• A chemical compound breaks into two simpler substances is called a decomposition reaction.
• If the decomposition reaction takes place in the presence of light, it is called a photochemical decomposition reaction.
• In this reaction, Silver chloride$\left(\mathrm{AgCl}\right)$ is exposed to light, and it decomposes into silver and chlorine gas.

$\underset{\mathrm{Silver}\mathrm{Chloride}}{2\mathrm{AgCl}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Silver}}{2\mathrm{Ag}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Chlorine}}{{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Therefore, the type of chemical reaction involved when silver chloride is exposed to light is a photo-chemical decomposition reaction.