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When ammonium, potassium and calcium carbonates are each separately heated

When ammonium, potassium and calcium carbonates are each separately heated
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  • A None of them will decompose
  • B Each of them will decompose to give carbondioxide and the respective oxide
  • C Ammonium carbonate and potassium carbonate will not decompose
  • D Only ammonium carbonate and the respective oxide
  • E Ammonium carbonate will decompose to give carbondioxide, water and ammonia
Correct Answer: Option E
Explanation:
The correct answer is E. Ammonium carbonate will decompose to give carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia.

Here’s why:

- Ammonium carbonate (NH₄₂CO₃) decomposes when heated to give carbon dioxide (CO₂), water (H₂O), and ammonia (NH₃):

\[
(NH₄)₂CO₃ \rightarrow CO₂ + H₂O + 2NH₃
\]

- Potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) are more stable and do not decompose at normal heating temperatures. When calcium carbonate is heated, it decomposes into calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), but potassium carbonate remains stable under heating.

So, ammonium carbonate is the only one that will decompose into carbon dioxide, water, and ammonia, making E the correct answer.

The other options are incorrect because:
- A: Not all of them are stable at heating, ammonium carbonate decomposes.
- B: Only ammonium carbonate decomposes, not potassium and calcium carbonates.
- C: Potassium carbonate does not decompose under typical heating.
- D: This is incorrect because ammonium carbonate decomposes to produce more than just the oxide (it also produces CO₂ and NH₃).

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