Reactions in Some Solid Inorganic Compounds

When metal carbonates are heated, they decompose to produce the metal oxide and C02. From an economic standpoint, the decomposition of limestone, CaC03, is perhaps the most important reaction of this type because the product, lime, is used in making mortar and concrete. 

In another reaction of this type, metal sulfites lose S02 when heated, 

Partial decomposition of some salts is the preparative means to others. For example, the commercial preparation of tetrasodium diphosphate involves the thermal dehydration of Na2HP04  

Other compounds that can be partially decomposed include dithionates, with the following being typical reactions of this type  

As will be discussed in Chapter 14, the thermal decomposition of solids containing the S2Og2 ion to give S042 and S02 is a general reaction of dithionates. 

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