Consider the ΔG°f and ΔH°f (kJ/mol) for the following oxides. Which oxide can be most easily decomposed to form the metal and oxygen gas?
(a) ZnO (ΔG° = - 318.4, ΔH° = - 348.3)
(b) Cu2O(ΔG° = - 146.0, ΔH° = - 168.8)
(c) HgO (ΔG° = - 58.5, ΔH° = - 90.8)
(d) PbO (ΔG° = - 187.9, ΔH° = - 217.3)
