Question

How does a decomposition reaction differ from other types of reactions?

Answer 1

A chemical is reaction is a process where one or more chemical species reacts with each other and gives one or more different chemical species. A chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical reaction. There are various types of chemical reactions. Decomposition is one of the types of a chemical reaction.

Complete step by step answer:
A chemical transformation of one or more chemical substances to one or more chemical substances is known as a chemical reaction.

In a chemical reaction, reacting species are known as reactants and newly formed species are known as products. So, we can say that during chemical reaction reactants are converted into products.

Chemical reactions are classified mainly into the following 5 basic types.
1. Decomposition: A decomposition is a chemical reaction where a single reactant breaks down into two or more products.
The general representation of the decomposition reaction is as follows:
${\text{AB }} \to {\text{ A + B}}$
In a decomposition reaction reactant is a single compound.

2. Combination: A combination is a type of chemical reaction where two or more reactants combine together to form one product.
The general representation of a combination reaction is as follows:
${\text{ A + B }} \to {\text{ AB}}$
Decomposition and combination reactions are opposite to each other.

3. Single displacement reaction: A replacement of one element in the compound by a free element is known as a single replacement reaction.
The general representation of a single displacement reaction is as follows:
${\text{AB + C }} \to {\text{ CB + A}}$
In a single displacement reaction, reactants are compound and element.

4. Double displacement reaction: A reaction where two compounds react with each other and give two new products with the exchange of ions is known as a double displacement reaction.
The general representation of a double displacement reaction is as follows:
${\text{AB + CD }} \to {\text{ CB + AD}}$
In a double displacement reaction, two reactants are compounds.

5. Combustion reaction: A reaction in which a hydrocarbon reacts with oxygen and gives carbon dioxide gas and water is known as a combustion reaction.
${\text{ Hydrocarbon + }}{{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}} \to {\text{ C}}{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2 }}}}{\text{ + }}{{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}{\text{O}}$

So by observing all types of reactions we can say that only in decomposition type reaction only one reactant takes part in the reaction while in other types of reaction more than one reactant takes part in the reaction.

Note: Breaking of a single complex substance into two or more simple substances is decomposition. In decomposition reaction reacting species is always compound. Decomposition reactions are mainly used to extract the metals from their ore.