Choose the Best Answer · Q25
Q.Among the following the least thermally stable is
a) K₂CO₃
b) Na₂CO₃
c) BaCO₃
d) Li₂CO₃
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Start your 14-day free trial to unlock the full solution →Step 1. The text states directly that, while alkali metal carbonates M₂CO₃ are stable up to 1273 K, 'Li₂CO₃ is considerably less stable and decomposes readily,' Li₂CO₃ →(Δ)→ Li₂O + CO₂.
Step 2. This instability is attributed to the large size mismatch between the very small Li⁺ cation and the large CO₃²⁻ anion, which destabilises the crystal lattice (an isolated-ion-pair/lattice-energy effect, the same underlying cause as several of lithium's other anomalous properties). …
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