What type of reaction occurs when one compound reacts and is broken down into different elements or simpler compounds?

Question

What type of reaction occurs when one compound reacts and is broken down into different elements or simpler compounds?

1 Answer

Impact of this question

11463 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-02-09T03:45:00

Decomposition reactions.

Explanation:

When a binary compound breaks down into separate elements OR when compounds break down into simpler compounds, it is known as a decomposition reaction.

The general formula for decomposition reactions are: $A B \to A + B$ $AB -> A+B$

Binary compounds:

$H g O (s) \to H g (l) + O_{2} (s)$ $HgO(s) -> Hg(l)+O_"2"(s)$

$2 H_{2} O (l) \to 2 H_{2} (s) + O_{2} (s)$ $2H_"2"O (l) -> 2H_"2" (s) + O_"2" (s)$

$2 N a C l (s) \to 2 N a (s) + C l_{2} (g)$ $2NaCl (s) -> 2Na (s) + Cl_"2" (g)$

Simple compounds:

When a metal carbonate breaks down, it yields a metal oxide and carbon dioxide.

$C a C O_{3} (s) \to C a O (s) + C O_{2} (g)$ $CaCO_"3" (s) -> CaO (s) + CO_"2" (g)$

When a metal hydroxide breaks down, it yields a metal oxide and water. Acids work the same way, but no formation of a metal compound.

$M {g (O H)}_{2} (a q) \to M g O (s) + H_{2} O (l)$ $Mg(OH)_"2" (aq) -> MgO (s) + H_"2"O (l)$

$H_{3} P O_{4} (a q) \to P_{2} O_{5} (s) + H_{2} O (l)$ $H_"3"PO_"4" (aq) -> P_"2"O_"5" (s) + H_"2"O (l)$

When a chlorate breaks down, it yields a binary salt and oxygen gas.

$K C l O_{3} (s) \to K C l (s) + O_{2} (g)$ $KClO_"3" (s) -> KCl (s) + O_"2" (g)$

Hope this helps :)

Science

Math

Humanities

... and beyond

What type of reaction occurs when one compound reacts and is broken down into different elements or simpler compounds?

1 Answer

Explanation:

Related questions

Impact of this question