Carboxylate decomposition, residual solid

The chemical properties of the residual solid products from metal carboxylate decomposition are largely controlled by the reactant cation present and may include one or more of the following metal, carbide, oxide or oxides, carbonate. 

The products of decomposition of metal carboxylates vary to some extent with the constituent cation and the final residue is usually either the metal or an oxide, occasionally the carbide and sometimes some elemental carbon deposit. Dollimore et al. [94] have described the use of Ellingham diagrams for the prediction of the composition of the solid products of oxalate decompositions. The complete characterization of residual material can be difficult, however, since the solids may be finely divided, pyrophoric [1010], metallic and amorphous to X-rays. 

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