Term: pyrolysis
https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04961

Definition:
thermolysis, usually associated with exposure to a high temperature.

Notes:
0) The term generally refers to reaction in an @I03026@ environment.
1) Pyrolysis is the commonly used term for a high-temperature treatment that converts a @CT07541@ to a @CT07540@.
2) Modified from previous definition. The definition proposed here is more explicit about the elevated temperatures involved.

Related Terms:
1) inert (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.I03026).
2) ceramic precursor (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07541).
3) ceramic (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.CT07540).
4) thermolysis (http://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.T06326).

Source: PAC, 2007, 79, 1801. 'Definitions of terms relating to the structure and processing of sols, gels, networks, and inorganic-organic hybrid materials (IUPAC Recommendations 2007)' on page 1824 (https://doi.org/10.1351/pac200779101801)

Citation: 'pyrolysis' in IUPAC Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 5th ed. International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry; 2025. Online version 5.0.0, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1351/goldbook.P04961

License: The IUPAC Gold Book is licensed under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike CC BY-SA 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) for individual terms.

Disclaimer: The International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is continuously reviewing and, where needed, updating terms in the Compendium of Chemical Terminology (the IUPAC Gold Book). Users of these terms are encouraged to include the version of a term with its use and to check regularly for updates to term definitions that you are using.