Decomposition Reactions Jean Brainard, Ph.D. Say Thanks to the Authors Click http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (No sign in required) To access a customizable version of this book, as well as other interactive content, visit www.ck12.org CK-12 Foundation is a non-profit organization with a mission to reduce the cost of textbook materials for the K-12 market both in the U.S. and worldwide. Using an open-content, web-based collaborative model termed the FlexBook®, CK-12 intends to pioneer the generation and distribution of high-quality educational content that will serve both as core text as well as provide an adaptive environment for learning, powered through the FlexBook Platform®. Copyright © 2014 CK-12 Foundation, www.ck12.org The names “CK-12” and “CK12” and associated logos and the terms “FlexBook®” and “FlexBook Platform®” (collectively “CK-12 Marks”) are trademarks and service marks of CK-12 Foundation and are protected by federal, state, and international laws. Any form of reproduction of this book in any format or medium, in whole or in sections must include the referral attribution link http://www.ck12.org/saythanks (placed in a visible location) in addition to the following terms. Except as otherwise noted, all CK-12 Content (including CK-12 Curriculum Material) is made available to Users in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-Non-Commercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0/), as amended and updated by Creative Commons from time to time (the “CC License”), which is incorporated herein by this reference. Complete terms can be found at http://www.ck12.org/terms. Printed: January 4, 2014 AUTHOR Jean Brainard, Ph.D. www.ck12.org C ONCEPT Concept 1. Decomposition Reactions 1 Decomposition Reactions • Write the general chemical equation for a decomposition reaction. • Describe examples of decomposition reactions. Hydrogen peroxide is a widely used disinfectant for minor cuts and scrapes. You may have a bottle of hydrogen peroxide like the one pictured here in your medicine cabinet at home. Did you ever notice that hydrogen peroxide is always kept in a dark brown bottle like this one? Do you know why? The reason is that hydrogen peroxide needs to be protected from light. If it isn’t, it will gradually break down to water and oxygen. This is a decomposition reaction. 1 www.ck12.org What Is a Decomposition Reaction? A decomposition reaction occurs when one reactant breaks down into two or more products. It can be represented by the general equation: AB → A + B In this equation, AB represents the reactant that begins the reaction, and A and B represent the products of the reaction. The arrow shows the direction in which the reaction occurs. Q: What is the chemical equation for the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) to water (H2 O) and oxygen (O2 )? A: The equation for this decomposition reaction is: 2 H2 O2 → 2 H2 O + O2 Other Examples of Decomposition Reactions Two more examples of decomposition reactions are described below. You can see additional examples at this URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dxlWtsFinTM • Carbonic acid (H2 CO3 ) is an ingredient in soft drinks. A decomposition reaction takes place when carbonic acid breaks down to produce water (H2 O) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ). This occurs when you open a can of soft drink and some of the carbon dioxide fizzes out. The equation for this reaction is: H2 CO3 → H2 O + CO2 • Another decomposition reaction occurs when water (H2 O) breaks down to produce hydrogen (H2 ) and oxygen (O2 ) gases (see Figure 1.1). This happens when an electric current passes through the water, as illustrated below. The equation for this reaction is: 2 H2 O → 2 H2 + O2 Q: What ratio of hydrogen molecules (H2 ) to oxygen molecules (O2 ) is produced in the decomposition of water? A: Two hydrogen molecules per oxygen molecule are produced because water (H2 O) has a ratio of two hydrogen atoms to one oxygen atom. Summary • A decomposition reaction occurs when one reactant breaks down into two or more products. This can be represented by the general equation: AB → A + B. • Examples of decomposition reactions include the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide to water and oxygen, and the breakdown of water to hydrogen and oxygen. Vocabulary • decomposition reaction: Chemical reaction in which one reactant breaks down into two or more products. 2 www.ck12.org Concept 1. Decomposition Reactions FIGURE 1.1 Decomposition of water. Practice Watch the video about decomposition reactions at the following URL, and then answer the questions below. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQJvbmHD1Lg MEDIA Click image to the left for more content. 1. Why are decomposition reactions the opposite of synthesis reactions? 2. What are the products of the decomposition of hydrogen chloride (HCl)? 3. What is missing from each of these balanced equations for decomposition reactions? a. 2Ni2 O3 → 4Ni + ? b. 2Al2 O3 → ? + 3O2 4. What is a general rule for the decomposition of metal hydrogen carbonates? Review 1. What is a decomposition reaction? What is the general equation for a decomposition reaction? 2. Describe the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide, and write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction. 3. Which of the following chemical equations represents a decomposition reaction? a. b. c. d. H2 SO3 → H2 O + SO2 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl 2K + 2H2 O → 2KOH + H2 NaCl + AgF → NaF + AgCl 3 www.ck12.org References 1. Christopher Auyeung. . CC BY-NC 3.0 4