Chemical degradation

Chemical decomposition, analysis or breakdown is the separation of a single chemical compound into its two or more elemental parts or to simpler compounds. Chemical decomposition is usually regarded and defined as the exact opposite of chemical synthesis.

The details of a decomposition process are not always well defined, but some of the process is understood. A lot of energy is needed to break bonds. Since all decomposition reactions break apart the bonds holding it together in order to produce into its simpler, basic parts, the reactions would require some form of this energy in varying degrees. Because of this fundamental rule, it's known that most of these reactions are endothermic, although exceptions do exist.

The stability of a chemical compound is eventually limited when exposed to extreme environmental conditions like heat, radiation, humidity, or the acidity of a solvent. Because of this, chemical decomposition is often an undesired chemical reaction.However, chemical decomposition, is being used in a growing number of ways.

For example, this method is employed for several analytical techniques, notably mass spectrometry, traditional gravimetric analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. Additionally, decomposition reactions are used today for a number of other reasons in the production of a wide variety of products, some of which may be surprising. One of these is the explosive breakdown reaction of sodium azide [(NaN₃)₂] into nitrogen gas (N₂) and sodium (Na). It is this process which powers the life-saving airbags present in virtually all of today's automobiles.

Of the six known basic decomposition reactions, this discussion will focus on what are referred to as the 'three broad types' and considered to be the most common,These three are the thermal, electrolytic, and catalytic decomposition reactions.

In the breakdown of a compound into its constituent parts,the generalized reaction for chemical decomposition is:

An example is the electrolysis of water to the gases hydrogen and oxygen:

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