Why is decomposition endothermic

The carbon dioxide produced can be detected using limewater, which turns milky. Other metal carbonates decompose in the same way. Here are the equations that represent the thermal decomposition of calcium carbonate:. Thermal decomposition is an example of an endothermic reaction, a reaction that gains energy from the surroundings. This is why thermal energy must be supplied constantly for the reaction to keep going. Note that some other reactions are exothermic reactions — they give out energy to their surroundings.

Thermal decomposition Some compounds break down when heated, forming two or more products from one reactant. Give it a try. Now if you have tried it, let's see. So see, respiration is a common process that even happens within us. Our cells, they take in oxygen and use that to break down glucose, and in this process we get the energy that we need to survive, run, and play, and things like that. So this process, this gives out more energy. That's why respiration is exothermic in nature.

Let's look at its chemical reaction. So here oxygen is getting utilized to break down glucose, and gives out carbon dioxide, water, and energy is released, which helps us do our activities. Now let's talk about photosynthesis. Now you'd remember that plants use this process to make food for almost entire living world.

They use carbon dioxide, water, and the energy from sunlight to make glucose. And since energy's being used over here, that's why this is called an endothermic process. This the chemical reaction. See here, sunlight energy's being used to make glucose from carbon dioxide and water.

And that's why this is endothermic in nature. And you can also notice that this reaction is totally the opposite of respiration. See, in respiration, carbon dioxide and water and energy were being produced, whereas in photosynthesis, carbon dioxide, water and energy are being utilized to make glucose.

So that's how I like to remember, that photosynthesis is totally opposite of respiration. Respiration is exo, it gives out energy, whereas photosynthesis is endo, it requires energy.

Now let's talk about decomposition of vegetable matter. This is a tricky one. See, this has the word decomposition in it. Now in the video of exo and endothermic reactions, we have seen that, in general, decomposition reactions. Meaning the reactions in which a big molecule is breaking down into smaller molecules, decomposing into smaller molecules.

This generally requires a lot of energy. That means, in general, not always, but in general, decomposition reactions are endothermic in nature, but not this one. This one releases more heat. This is exothermic in nature. See, basically what happens, when we throw off unused vegetables or fruits, bacteria and fungi, they all act on it and they decompose it, they break it down.

Now in this process, a lot of energy's being released, and that's why this is an exothermic process. Now how I like to remember this is, basically when you throw away vegetable matter, it decomposes and it becomes manure or fertilizer.

And fertilizers, basically, give energy to plants, right. So in this process, energy's being released, and that's how I remember that decomposition of vegetable matter is an exothermic process. Now I have these reactions, and let's try to identify them as exo and endothermic reactions.

Now first of all, I would want you to pause the video and try this by yourself. So here in the first reaction, I can see that heat, or delta, is being mentioned on top of the arrow. Now this symbolizes that this reaction requires heat to begin or proceed, and we know that reactions that require heat, they are called endothermic. So this is going to be an example of endothermic reaction. Now let's look at this one. See in this reaction I can see that plus heat, or plus delta, is written in the product side.