What temp will sodium carbonate decahydrate decomp to sodium oxide + CO2 + H2O?
The fact is that it does not. The decahydrate loses water of crystalisation at a low temperature ( I think about 34°C) to form the monohydrate. At 100° The final molecule of water is lost resulting in anhydrous sodium carbonate. This can be melted at 851 °C . The sodium carbonate will actually boil, as anhydrous sodium carbonate at 1600 °C. Decomposition of Na2CO3 to Na2O and CO2 does not occur. On the contrary , if NaOH is heated to a high temperature, in a CO2 atmosphere, Na2CO3 is produced, which is stable at these high temperatures: As a check I worked backwards and checked on the methods of producing Na2O to see if such a system is known by decomposing Na2CO3. Here is what I found: Preparation: Sodium oxide is produced when sodium bicarbonate is added to water. 2 NaHCO3 + H2O → Na2O + 2 H2O + 2 CO2 Na2O is formed when sodium is treated with oxygen. 4 Na + O2 → 2 Na2O Burning sodium in air will produce Na2O and about 20% sodium peroxide Na2O2. 6 Na + 2 O2 → 2 Na2O + Na2O2 Pure Na2O
