Thermal Decomposition
Summary: A chemical reaction where a compound breaks down into simpler substances when heated. Tags: concepts chemistry Created: 2026-05-03T00:00:00Z Last Updated: 2026-05-03T00:00:00Z
Content
Thermal decomposition is a type of chemical reaction in which a single compound breaks down into two or more simpler substances when heated. It is an endothermic reaction — requiring energy input (heat) to break bonds.
Examples:
- Calcium carbonate → calcium oxide + carbon dioxide (CaCO3 → CaO + CO2, heated)
- Copper carbonate → copper oxide + carbon dioxide (CuCO3 → CuO + CO2, heated)
Thermal decomposition is an example of an endothermic reaction and always requires heat to proceed.