Chemical decomposition or analysis is the fragmentation of a chemical compound into elements or smaller compounds. It is sometimes defined as the opposite of a synthesis.

A generalized reaction formula is: AB → A + B.

An example of analysis is the electrolysis of water

2H₂O → 2H₂ + O₂.

Another recognized form of decomposition is hydrogen peroxide. If you keep it for a long time, the hydrogen peroxide will eventually decompose into water and oxygen:

2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂

With analysis and chemical synthesis equations alone it is possible to describe all types of chemical reactions. Chemical decomposition is often an undesired chemical reaction. The stability that a chemical compound ordinarily has is eventually limited when exposed to extreme environmental conditions like for instance heat, radiation, humidity or the acidity of a medium. The detailed decomposition process is generally not well defined and a molecule breaks up into a host of smaller fragments.

Chemical decomposition is exploited in several analytical techniques notably mass spectrometry, traditional gravimetric analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis.

Inorganic chemistry | Organic chemistry | Chemical reactions

Abbau (Chemie) | 化学分解 | Reação de decomposiação | ปฏิกิริยาแตกตัว