Random - 5-7-2010 at 12:23
I would like to know what is product of decomposition of metal acetate/citrate salts. Thanks.
mewrox99 - 5-7-2010 at 19:50
Most likely a metal oxide, carbon dioxide, water and pyrolysis products (soot)
bbartlog - 6-7-2010 at 07:41
Question is underspecified. Looking just at acetate salts, you can get a variety of decomposition products ranging from acetone (from calcium acetate)
to acetic acid to methane, CO2, and/or small amounts of higher weight hydrocarbons. Pyrolysis of carboxylic acids sometimes results in decarboxylated
products (see for example the production of benzene from sodium benzoate, discussed elsewhere in these forums) but I don't know that that's a general
rule, and anyway the product(s) from a single decarboxylation of citric acid would likely not be volatile enough to distill easily. You need to look
at a particular compound and do some research to see if anyone has actually done the experiment; theory is a very limited guide here.
turd - 6-7-2010 at 09:39
Also temperature, atmosphere, and so on. Most likely you will end up with metal carbonates (potASH) or oxides.
Check: http://www.google.com/search?q=pechini+method
Edit: Pechini precursors are available to the home chemist and the "reaction" can be lots of fun. 
[Edited on 6-7-2010 by turd]