Chemistry General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements ( Not In Syllabus ) Thermodynamic Principles of Metallurgy and Applications Subjective Type
Published on: August 12, 2026

Why the HgO decomposes into its constituent elements on heating ?

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When the temperature is raised a point will be reached where the graph crossed the Δ G = 0 line. Below this temperature the free energy of formation of oxide is negative, so the oxide is stable. Above this temperature the free energy of formation of the oxide is positive, and the oxide becomes unstable and should decompose into metal and oxygen. This explains why HgO, for instance, decomposes spontaneously into its elements when heated.

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