Question

What is the solid produced when zinc carbonate decomposes?

Answer 1

Zinc oxide.

Explanation:

Zinc carbonate, `"ZnCO"_3`, undergoes thermal decomposition to form zinc oxide, `"ZnO"`, a solid that is white in color when cold and yellow in color when hot, and carbon dioxide gas, `"CO"_2`

`"ZnCO"_ (3(s)) stackrel(color(white)(a)color(red)(Delta)color(white)(aaa))(->) "ZnO"_ ((s)) + "CO"_ (2(g))` `uarr`

This reaction is characteristic to metal carbonates, which decompose when heated to form the oxide of the metal and carbon dioxide gas.