Which of the following compounds undergoes/undergo thermal

Which of the following compounds undergoes/undergo thermal decomposition?

Zinc oxide
Silver oxide and zinc oxide
Silver oxide
Magnesium oxide
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2022
Silver oxide undergoes thermal decomposition.
Thermal decomposition is the breakdown of a compound by heating. Silver oxide (Ag2O) is relatively unstable and decomposes upon heating into silver metal and oxygen gas (2Ag2O(s) -> 4Ag(s) + O2(g)). Zinc oxide (ZnO) and Magnesium oxide (MgO) are stable oxides that do not decompose easily upon heating under normal conditions.
The ease of thermal decomposition of metal oxides is related to the reactivity of the metal. Oxides of less reactive metals (like silver, mercury, gold) decompose more easily than oxides of more reactive metals (like magnesium, zinc, calcium).
Exit mobile version