Decomposition

Decomposition is synonymous with decay. So what is decay or decomposition? As morbid as it sounds when a dead body decays it decomposes, meaning it breaks down to smaller particles.

Decomposition is the reaction in which a substance is broken down to its elements or smaller substances totally different from before.

An easy example is the decomposition of leaves in the fall. When leaves decay they break down into smaller particles called nutrients. This reaction is a chemical reaction. How do you do know it is a chemical reaction?

The smell is a big clue. When leaves decay there is that certain odor of rotten food in the air. That odor is the gas being released as the reaction is occurring and is a big indicator of a chemical change.

Another type of decomposition is a half-life of a radioactive material. When something is radioactive, like plutonium, it is slowly breaking down into electrons and protons. As this happens it loses mass. The rate at which it loses mass is called the half-life of the radioactive material. So at a certain time, the radioactive material is half of what it used to be, this certain time is called the half-life.

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