Decomposition temperature
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The decomposition temperature of a substance is the temperature at which the substance decomposes into smaller substances or into its constituent atoms. This process is also known as thermal decomposition.
Some compounds decompose into smaller compounds. For example, calcium carbonate decomposes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide.
Some compounds, on the other hand simply decompose into their constituent atoms. Water, when heated to well over 2000 degrees Celsius, breaks up into hydrogen and oxygen atoms.