[aslan649]

I know the definition of a decomposition is having a single molecule or compound and having it broken into individual components.  However, I am having trouble when predicting the resulting outcome of a reaction.  For example, how do I determine the resulting product for H2O -> H2 + O2.  How would I go from scratch with any compound and figure out the products.  Do I cross the charges?  Do I have to go to a different hybridized state?  I'm so lost about this topic since I haven't gone over it since the past year.  Any help would be of great appreciation. Thanks

[GKUser]

Try to memorize the major polyatomic ions (they usually should be in a table in your textbook)

If you do this, more often than not, compounds will tend to split up into their ions during decomposition reactions.  However, this isn't a complete explanation, since bases and acids will dissociate differently.

Hope this helps.

[aslan649]

Yes, thank you.  My teacher reviewed the prediction of decomposition reactions with us some more and there seems to be various factors involved such as oxidation, hybridization, and metallic chlorate, phosphate, sulfate, etc.  simple binary compound, and complex binary compound.