Question

Give an example of a decomposition reaction. Describe an activity to illustrate such a reaction by heating.

Answer 1

Decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals.

\[\ce{2FeSO4_{(s)}-> Fe2O3 + SO2_{(g)} + SO3_{(g)}}\] 

Heat the ferrous sulphate crystals; the colour of ferrous sulphate crystals is green. On heating, the ferrous sulphate crystals lose their water molecules and therefore the colour of the crystals changes. It is a decomposition reaction because they decompose to simpler molecules.