How does magnesium carbonate decompose under heating?

1 Answer
anor277
Mar 14, 2017

#MgCO_3(s) + Delta rarr MgO(s) + CO_2(g)uarr#

Explanation:

Most metal carbonates decompose according to this scheme to give the metal oxide and carbon dioxide gas. I leave it to you to calculate the percentage loss with respect to the magnesium salt. The oxidation numbers are constant for products and reactants: #Mg(+II); C(+IV); O(-II)# for products and reactants; i.e. this is not a redox reaction.

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