The general chemical equation for this process is:
MeCO3 (s) → MeO (s) + CO2 (g)
Where:
- Me represents a metal cation.
- MeCO3 represents the carbonate compound of the metal.
- MeO represents the metal oxide formed after decomposition.
- CO2 represents the carbon dioxide gas produced.
During thermal decomposition, the carbonate mineral is heated to a high temperature, causing its chemical bonds to break. The carbonate ion (CO3^2-) present in the compound splits into carbon dioxide (CO2) and oxygen (O2). The carbon dioxide gas escapes, while the metal cation remains bonded to oxygen to form the metal oxide.
The thermal decomposition of carbonates is an important process in various industrial applications, such as the production of lime (calcium oxide) from limestone (calcium carbonate) and the extraction of metals from their carbonate ores.
