When metals are near the bottom of the reactivity series, their compounds generally decompose easily at high temperatures. This is because stronger bonds form between atoms towards the top of the reactivity series, and strong bonds are difficult to break. For example, copper is near the bottom of the reactivity series, and copper sulfate (CuSO 4), begins to decompose at about 200 °C (473 K; 392 °F), increasing rapidly at higher temperatures to about 560 °C (833 K; 1,040 °F). In contrast potassium is near the top of the reactivity series, and potassium sulfate (K 2 SO 4) does not decompose at its melting point of about 1,069 °C (1,342 K; 1,956 °F), nor even at its boiling point.