* Chemical bonds break: The chemical bonds holding the atoms together in the original compound are broken. This requires energy, often in the form of heat, light, or electricity.
* New compounds form: The atoms that were previously bonded together rearrange to form new, smaller molecules.
* Energy is either absorbed or released: Decomposition reactions can be endothermic (absorbing energy) or exothermic (releasing energy), depending on the specific compounds involved.
Examples:
* Electrolysis of water: Water (H₂O) is decomposed into hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) using electricity.
* Heating calcium carbonate: Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) decomposes into calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) when heated.
Let me know if you'd like more specific examples or want to explore the different types of decomposition reactions!
