Decomposition Reactions 1. Place approximately half a spatula full (roughly pea-sized) of copper(II) carbonate in a dry test tube. If you do not have a clean, dry test tube, ask your instructor for one. Do not try to dry a test tube during the laboratory period.
What Is the Asthenosphere? The asthenosphere is part of the upper mantle located below the crust of the earth. The asthenosphere boundary is primarily defined by temperature, and it starts when the crust heats up to 1300Â° C. At this temperature the crust begins to melt and move more as a liquid. The asthenosphere is important in plate tectonics, as convection currents slowly move the tectonic plates that lie above.
The asthenosphere is the denser, weaker layer beneath the lithospheric mantle. It lies between about 100 kilometers (62 miles) and 410 kilometers (255 miles) beneath Earthâs surface. The temperature and pressure of the asthenosphere are so high that rocks soften and partly melt, becoming semi-molten.