Decomposition or analysis is a type of inorganic reaction in which a reactant is decomposed into two or more substances.
These formed substances can be simple (made up of just one kind of chemical element) or composite (made up of atoms of different kinds of chemical elements).
Generically, this can be represented by:
A → B + C
An example is shown in the text Airbag and decomposition reaction. O air bag of automobiles has a bag (bag in English) which contains sodium azide, which is the following salt: NaN3(s). When the car has a collision, the bumper sensors transmit an electrical impulse (spark) that causes the substance to rapidly decompose. See this reaction below:
2 NaN3(s) → 3 N2(g) + 2 In (s)
Note that sodium azide has been broken down into two simple substances, nitrogen gas, which makes the bag inflate, and metallic sodium, which reacts with another compound in the bag (KNO3) and produces more nitrogen gas.
In this case, decomposition occurred thanks to the spark. But this type of reaction can be initiated not only by the action of heat, but it can also be by the action of light or electricity. In each of these cases, the decomposition reaction is given a specific name, which characterizes it. Note each of these names in the table below:
By Jennifer Fogaça
Graduated in Chemistry
Source: Brazil School - https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/reacao-inorganica-decomposicao.htm
