Question

if calcium carbonate (caco₃) decomposes, what would the product of the reaction be? caco₃→+co₂

Explanation:

Step1: Analyze the decomposition reaction

Decomposition reactions break a compound into simpler substances. Calcium carbonate ($\text{CaCO}_3$) has calcium ($\text{Ca}$), carbon ($\text{C}$), and oxygen ($\text{O}$). We know one product is $\text{CO}_2$.

Step2: Determine the remaining product

Using the law of conservation of mass (atoms are conserved in a chemical reaction), for the left - hand side $\text{CaCO}_3$ (1 Ca, 1 C, 3 O) and the right - hand side $\text{CO}_2$ (1 C, 2 O), the remaining atoms are 1 Ca and 1 O. The compound formed by Ca and O is $\text{CaO}$ (calcium oxide).

Answer:

$\text{CaO}$