1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. Assertion: The carbonate of lithium decomposes easily on heating to form lithium oxide and CO2. Reason: Lithium being very small in size polarises large carbonate ion leading to the formation of more stable Li2O and CO2.

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Q. Assertion : The carbonate of lithium decomposes easily on heating to form lithium oxide and $CO_2$.
Reason : Lithium being very small in size polarises large carbonate ion leading to the formation of more stable $Li_2O$ and $CO_2$.

AIIMSAIIMS 2017The s-Block Elements

Solution:

The carbonate of lithium decomposes easily on heating to form lithium oxide and $CO _{2}$. Other alkali metal carbonates do not decompose.
$Li _{2} CO _{3} \xrightarrow{\Delta}Li _{2} O + CO _{2} \uparrow$
Lithium being very small in size polarises large carbonate ion. It distorts the electron cloud on the nearby oxygen atom of large carbonate ion. It weakens $C - O$ bond and strengthens $Li$ - $O$ bond. It leads to the formation of more stable $Li _{2} O$ and $CO _{2}$.