Study of the thermal decomposition of MSO4 (M = Zn(II), Cd(II), Hg(II)) in a sodium nitrate—potassium nitrate melt

MSO₄ (M = Zn²⁺, Cd²⁺, Hg²⁺) dissolves in the molten NaNO₃—KNO₃ eutectic and is decomposed on further heating. The kinetics of decomposition have been studied at different temperatures. The decomposition of CdSO₄ and HgSO₄ in the eutectic melt obey first-order kinetics whereas the decomposition of ZnSO₄ at 420–460°C obeys second-order kinetics. However, at 480°C the decomposition of ZnSO₄ obeys first-order kinetics. The mechanism of decomposition has been given as M²⁺ +SO^2?₄ +Na⁺ +K⁺ +2NO^?₃ ? (Na,K)SO₄ + M²⁺ +2NO^?₃ M²⁺ +NO^?₃ → MO+NO⁺₂ NO^?₃ +NO⁺₂ → NO₂ + $\text{1}\text{2}$O₂ Some of the end products have been analysed by X-ray diffraction.