Why doesn't CaO decompose into Ca and O2?

Many metal oxides decompose into the free metal and oxygen gas at high temperatures, but why doesn't $\ce{CaO}$ do that? What happens to $\ce{CaO}$ at high temperatures?


This is from problem 2 of the 2011 USNCO local exam:



> 
> Oxygen gas can be produced by the decomposition of all
>  of the following substances EXCEPT
> 
> 
> (A) calcium oxide. (B) hydrogen peroxide.
>  (C) mercury(II) oxide. (D) ozone. 
> 
> 
> 


The correct answer to this question was (A).




Stability, the thermodynamic property, is defined as whether a decomposition reaction is exergonic or endergonic at a certain temperature. The reaction $\ce{CaO -> Ca + 1/2 O2}$ is endergonic across a very large temperature range. But that doesn’t necessarily help you.


In that list of four, we have to clearly molecular compounds and two mostly ionic ones. We need different discussions for both. Basically, the molecules are unstable towards decomposition into $\ce{O2}$ and something ($\ce{H2O}$/$\ce{O2}$) because they contain energetic bonds whose replacement by an $\ce{O=O}$ bond is favourable.


For the ionic ones, we have a number of different discussions we can do. For one, the metallic partner is calcium versus mercury; while the latter is known since ancient times and pretty stable in liquid form the former is not: It will readily react to form salts. For another, the $\ce{Ca^2+}$ ion is rather small and thus a hard Lewis acid according to Pearson’s concept. $\ce{Hg^2+}$ is much larger and thus a much softer acid. Therefore, the adduct of $\ce{Ca^2+}$ and $\ce{O^2-}$ is predicted to be more stable (hard–hard interaction) than that of $\ce{Hg^2+}$ with $\ce{O^2-}$. Finally, we can also consider heats of formation which should (I unfortunately don’t have values) be much more negative in the case of $\ce{CaO}$ than for $\ce{HgO}$ — therefore, the latter can be decomposed with enough heat due to $\Delta G = \Delta H - T \Delta S$ while the former cannot.


 8

In short ... ***before the decomposition of CaO, it start to melts. That means, melting point of CaO is less than the theoretical decomposition temperature of CaO. So it do not decompose upon high temperature. It melts.*** Compounds like Na2O , K2O, MgO .... etc also do not decompose due to this reason.


In fact these compounds are thermodynamicaly more stable. 


Compound like Silver oxide, oxides of mercury readily decompose as their decompose temperature is less than their melting point. Oxides of elements below Hydrogen in electro-chemical series act like this.
That is these compounds are thermodynamically less stable with respect to above compounds. (that doesn't mean that these compounds are thermodynamically unstable. Only less stable with respect to Na2O , K2O, MgO .... etc.)


 2

A comparison of the heats of formation of the 4 molecules yield the correct result. At -630 kJ/mol /\ Hf, CaO requires the least energy to form - and therefore the most energy to decompose - compared to HgO (-90), MgO (-600), and H2O2 (-188). In other words, CaO is the happiest of the 4 molecules at 'high temperatures'. 


CaO will eventually decompose if the temperature is increased sufficiently, but the other 3 molecules will do it first. I think the term 'high temperatures' is a source of confusion. :)


 1