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Why Li2CO3 decomposes on heating but K2CO3 does not?

Why Li2CO3 decomposes on heating but K2CO3 does not?

Grade:12th pass

1 Answers

Arun
25750 Points
6 years ago

As we move down the alkali metal group, the electropositive character increases. This causes an increase in the stability of alkali carbonates. However, lithium carbonate is not so stable to heat. This is because lithium carbonate is covalent. Lithium ion, being very small in size, polarizes a large carbonate ion, leading to the formation of more stable lithium oxide.

 

Therefore, lithium carbonate decomposes at a low temperature while a stable potassium carbonate decomposes at a high temperature

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