* Degradation: A degradative reaction breaks down a larger molecule into smaller ones.
* In this reaction: Water (H₂O) is broken down into oxygen (O₂) and hydrogen (H₂).
Key points:
* This reaction is also known as the electrolysis of water, where water is split into its constituent elements using electricity.
* This reaction requires energy input (electricity) to occur, making it an endothermic reaction.
* The reverse reaction, the combination of hydrogen and oxygen to form water, is a synthetic reaction that releases energy (exothermic).
