Decomposition teaching resources

Worksheets and lesson ideas to challenge students aged 11 to 16 to think hard about acids, alkalis and salts (GCSE and Key Stage 3)

Thermal decomposition is a great context for students to learn about chemical changes and to practice writing chemical equations.

Where to start?

Ask students what happens to bread when they leave it in the toaster for too long. This is an example of a thermal decomposition reaction.

Demonstrate the reaction

Chemical ideas are pointless for most students unless they help them to understand the world.  It’s important then that students get to see the the reaction in the lab – the video below will help you with the teacher talk to speak around the demonstration but it’s important to carry out the demo live! This is a highly endothermic process that needs lots of energy to rip these compounds apart.