Decompostion.Watkins

Decomposition

Decomposition is when elements or compounds are broken down into simpler elements or compounds. The equation for this is; AB ---> A + B.

An example of this is: Magnesium Oxide is broken into Magnesium and Oxygen.

As an equation that would look like: MgO ---> Mg + O2

But again there is a problem, the equation is not balanced! I know you say it all the time Dr. Reich but we just don't get it!!!

MgO ---> Mg + O2

-So we start by putting a "2" in front of the "Mg" on the left because the "2" will make the oxygen atoms on the left which is equal to the two oxygen atoms on the right side of the arrow.

2MgO ---> Mg + O2

-Ok, so we fixed that but we still have a problem, the Magnesium atoms are unbalanced. We have two Magnesium atoms on the left but only one on the right so that needs to be fixed. To do that we will place a "2" in front of the "Mg" on the right.

So our final equation should look like this:

2MgO ---> 2Mg + O2

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