An Experiment Into the Thermal Decomposition of Metal Carbonates

This essay hasn't yet been marked by one of our teachers

You can view 21 essays on Aqueous Chemistry that have been Marked by Teachers

The first 200 words of this essay...

An Experiment into the thermal decomposition of metal carbonates

PLAN

I propose to investigate the effect of heat on the breakdown of metal carbonates. Metal carbonates all decompose with varying ease, and the aim of this particular experiment is to find the order of ease of thermal decomposition in the metal carbonates.

These are the 8 main types of metal carbonate. These are;

* Potassium Carbonate

* Sodium Carbonate

* Calcium Carbonate

* Magnesium Carbonate

* Zinc Carbonate

* Iron Carbonate

* Lead Carbonate

* Copper Carbonate

I have chose 5 of these metals to investigate, to give me a reasonable spread of results. The way in which carbonates are formed is when a metal forms a covalent bond with carbon and oxygen. This usually occurs naturally, or can sometimes take place after a reaction of two other compounds. The strength of the covalent bond depends upon the metal's readiness to react with its surroundings. This gives me a good indication of my prediction. Copper carbonate is one of the metals, which I will experiment upon. This is the equation for the thermal decomposition of Copper carbonate.