Heating the carbonates (Group 1)

Most carbonates decompose on heating to the metal oxide and carbon dioxide. For example, a typical Group 2 carbonate like calcium carbonate decomposes like this:

In Group 1, lithium carbonate behaves in the same way, producing lithium oxide and carbon dioxide:

The rest of the Group 1 carbonates do not decompose at laboratory temperatures, although at higher temperatures this becomes possible. The decomposition temperatures again increase down the Group.