Thermal decomposition of Group 2 carbonates
Thermal decomposition of Group 2 carbonates
Formula
MCO₃ → MO + CO₂
Real World
Limestone (CaCO₃) is heated in massive industrial kilns at around 840°C to produce quicklime (CaO) for cement manufacturing — the same thermal decomposition reaction studied at A-level, scaled to millions of tonnes annually by companies like Tarmac.
Exam Focus
Explain increasing stability using polarisation: smaller cations distort the carbonate ion's electron cloud more, weakening C–O bonds and lowering decomposition temperature.
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