Question

Mercuric oxide (HgO) is heated and forms liquid mercury (Hg) and oxygen (O2) gas. How would you characterize this reaction?

Answer 1

Decomposition reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

Decomposition reaction -

It is the type of reaction, where a single entity breaks down into various products under the influence of some external factors , like heat and sunlight , is referred to as a decomposition reaction.

From the question,

The reaction is -

2 HgO → 2 Hg + O₂

Hence ,

A single compound HgO breaks down to two entities , i.e. , Hg and O₂.