A

David

Darling

chemical decomposition

Chemical decomposition is a reaction in which a chemical compound is split up into its elements or simpler compounds. Heat, or light of a suitable wavelength, will decompose many compounds, and some decompose spontaneously. Ionic compounds may be decomposed by electrolysis. Double decomposition is a reaction of the type

 

    AC + BD → AD + BC

 

in which radicals are exchanged.