Answer to Question #279874 in General Chemistry for nat

Question

Describe and suggest an explanation for the trend in the thermal decomposition of the nitrates of the Group II elements magnesium to barium, writing equations and using diagrams where appropriate

Answer 1

Both carbonates and nitrates of Group 2 elements become more thermally stable down the group. The larger compounds further down require more heat than the lighter compounds in order to decompose. This page offers two different explanations for these properties: polarizability and energetics.