• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
O Level Chemistry & IP Chemistry Notes by 10 Year Series Author – Chemistry Specialist

O Level Chemistry & IP Chemistry Notes by 10 Year Series Author - Chemistry Specialist

O Level Chemistry Made Easy

  • Chemistry Tuition
    • Testimonials
  • Books
    • O-Level Chemistry TYS Book for Singapore
    • O-Level Pure Chemistry Pocket Summary
    • Up Your Chemistry Grades Now! ebook
    • Pass With Distinction: Chemistry
    • Pass With Distinction: Science Chemistry
  • Videos
    • Topics
  • Download
  • About Me
  • Contact

O Level Chemistry – Types of Oxides

This is another section in O Level Chemistry where students find it tough to comprehend. Lets reveal the Secrets here.

An oxide is a compound of Oxygen and another element (e.g. through the process of Combustion)

? Metals form Metal Oxides and Non-Metals form Non-Metal Oxides

? Oxides can be classified as either Acidic, Basic, Amphoteric or Neutral

? Nature of the oxides of the elements across the periodic table from left to right changes from?Basic –> Amphoteric –> Acidic

ACIDIC OXIDES

Examples:
SO2, SO3, CO2, NO2

Properties:
1. Do not react with acids.
2. React with bases and alkalis to form salt & water.
3. Dissolve in water to form acidic solutions.
4. Usually gases at room temp.

BASIC OXIDES

Examples:
Na2O, CaO, MgO, FeO, CuO

Properties:
1. Do not react with bases.
2. React with acids to form salt & water.
3. Basic Oxides are usually insoluble in water. Those that dissolve in water forms alkaline solutions.

NEUTRAL OXIDES

Examples:
CO, NO, H2O

Properties:
1. Neutral pH

AMPHOTERIC OXIDES

Examples:
Oxides formed with metals near ?STEPS? such as ZnO, Al2O3, PbO,

Properties:
1. React with both acids and bases to form salt & water

For those taking GCE ‘O’ Level syllabus, there are many questions that will come out for this section on Types of Oxides.
Let’s take a look at some exam-based questions.

Quick Check 1:
Which of the following reacts with dilute sulphuric acid to give a gas and water as two of the products?
A. zinc
B. zinc carbonate
C. zinc hydroxide
D. zinc oxide

Quick Check 2:
Which element forms an oxide that reacts with water to give an acidic solution?
A. aluminium
B. sodium
C. sulphur
D. zinc

Quick Check 3:
Which element burns in air to form an oxide which, when shaken with water, gives a solution with a pH greater than 7?
A. carbon
B. hydrogen
C. magnesium
D. sulphur

PS: Do leave your suggested answers in the “Comments Section” directly below this post.

PPS: This post belongs to a series of blogposts that is associated with Secrets of “Acids, Bases & Salts and Qualitative Analysis revelaed”

Related Articles:

  • O Level Chemistry – Physical & Chemical Properties of ACIDs
  • O Level Chemistry – Chemical Definition of BASEs
  • O Level Chemistry – Physical & Chemical Properties of Alkalis
  • O Level Chemistry – Chemical Definition of ALKALIS
  • O Levels Chemistry Tips Blog Marathon – Day 2

Share:

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. SOSVAN says

    July 5, 2024 at 5:57 pm

    Its Nice Ans

  2. Pahul Sharma says

    October 1, 2018 at 10:45 pm

    Which is more basic CuO or FeO ?

  3. Foyazunnesa Momo says

    December 28, 2016 at 1:37 am

    A zinc

    C sulphur

    C magnesium

  4. R Vijay says

    February 15, 2015 at 8:54 am

    Sir,
    I am a IGCSE student about to do my main exam in a weeks time. I have most of my concepts properly understood. Could you explain how steel is manufactured. I have referred to my book, but I don’t seem to be understanding it…

    I would be glad if you could give me few tips, about to take my examination.

  5. Faris says

    August 26, 2013 at 9:12 pm

    can someone show me the eqaution for question 1? i just dont get it. is it ZnCO3 + H2SO4 -> ZnSO4+ H2O + CO2?

  6. Almia Fahd says

    August 15, 2013 at 12:16 pm

    1. All reactions give metal salt but Its B cos only zinc carbonate reacts with the acid to produce water and CO2(gas) which is not with corresponding metal, metal hydroxide, and metal oxide. 2. Its is C cos only sulphur forms an acidic oxide and when dissolved in water forms an acidic solution. 3. Its C cos only magnessium forms a basic oxide and when dissolved in water forms a basic solution responsible for the pH greaterthan 7.

  7. Almia Fahd says

    August 15, 2013 at 11:51 am

    1.B 2.C 3.C

  8. Etok Ndianabasi-Agnes says

    June 7, 2013 at 6:18 pm

    ques.1 is B, QUES.2 is C and QUES.3 is D

  9. Joshua says

    May 5, 2013 at 11:09 pm

    1b, 2c 3c. Answa to the questn.

  10. Shalaby says

    December 28, 2012 at 5:02 pm

    I agree with sean and bahamas the answers are
    B
    C
    C

  11. Anuja says

    March 31, 2012 at 10:06 am

    The “STEPS” are found in the periodic table, near the metalloids. So,aluminium, lead (11)and zinc (Found near metalloids) oxides are amphoteric oxides.

  12. bebo says

    March 19, 2012 at 3:14 pm

    I think it D ….talking abut qs 1

  13. from Bahamas :) says

    December 15, 2011 at 9:00 am

    1. B because :
    it gives off carbon dioxide (the gas)
    it gives off water (the water(lol))
    it also gives off a salt.

    2. C because :
    aluminum forms with oxygen to form an amphoteric solution, sodium forms a basic solution with water and so does zine. Through the process of elimination, sulphur is the only one that would fit this category.

    3. C because :
    carbon would form to create either carbon dioxide (acidic oxide) or carbon monoxide ( neutral oxide)

    sulphur would form sulphur dioxide (acidic oxide)

    hydrogen would form water when reacted with oxygen and i dont think its possible for hydrogen and oxygen to form hydroxide by themselves…so that leaves good ol’ C
    magnesium is able to be gaseous and nonetheless if burned in air it would combine with oxygen to form a basic oxide which would dissolve in water to form an alkaline solution. — and its the only one which would have a pH greater than seven ANYWAY.

    –Gr 11. Too bad it took me this long to find this awesome page… I have my Christmas final in Chemistry tomorrow and this was a good way to review.

    –AshantiWasHere 😀

  14. hazy says

    November 16, 2011 at 5:28 am

    is sulphate a type of oxide?

  15. rudraksha says

    March 5, 2011 at 6:36 pm

    Ans: B cos question states that they want to see more than 2 products

  16. Raafia says

    January 5, 2011 at 2:30 pm

    gr8 site, really helped me out:D
    my answer to question no. 1 is zinc carbonate because metal carbonates react with acids to form a salt, water and carbondioxide gas. My answer to ques. 2 is Sulphur oxide cuz its an acidic oxide and Ques. 3 is magnesium because it forms a basic oxide and when dissolved in water it will form an alkaline solution having a ph more than 7

  17. xxxx says

    June 19, 2010 at 3:08 pm

    ”Oxides formed with metals near ?STEPS? such as ZnO, Al2O3, PbO,”

    what do you mean by that?

  18. sean says

    April 24, 2009 at 3:51 pm

    Hi abdul rehman,

    Thank you for your participation.

    Answer for Q1 is B.
    –> Note that question mentioned there will be at least 3 products.

    Answer for Q2 is C.
    –> you got it. Acidic Oxide indeed.

    Answer for Q3 is C.
    –> you got it. Cool!

    Look forward to more participation from you.

    To Your Academic Success in Chemistry,
    Sean Chua
    Master Trainer & Author
    WINNERS Education Group

    “Experience Learning with A Difference”

  19. sean says

    April 24, 2009 at 3:46 pm

    Hi Cydnie,

    Good to see you participating cos ?Wanting leads to Wanting, Doing leads to Having?.

    These will be my suggested answers:

    Question 1:
    Ans: B cos question states that they want to see more than 2 products and only carbobate reacts with acid to give 3 products.

    Question 2:
    Ans: C cos Acidic Oxide are formed when a non-metal combines with oxygen.

    Question 3:
    Ans: C since Magnesium Oxide is the only Basic Oxide in the list and it will gives a pH higher than 7.

    Hope this helps. Let me know if this chemistry blogsite has been helpful in any ways.

    Keep Up The Good Work!
    Sean =)

  20. abdul rehman says

    April 10, 2009 at 11:17 pm

    my first answer is c: zincoxide becouse metaloxide+acid=salt and water always my second answer is S02 becouse its an acidic oxide. my third answer is magnesium couse its a metal and metaloxides are basic. base have a ph above then 7

  21. sean says

    August 31, 2008 at 10:05 pm

    Hi Sherman, Gary & Cydnie,

    Good to see you participating cos “Wanting leads to Wanting, Doing leads to Having”.

    These will be my suggested answers:

    Question 1:
    Ans: B cos question states that they want to see more than 2 products and only carbobate reacts with acid to give 3 products.

    Question 2:
    Ans: C cos Acidic Oxide are formed when a non-metal combines with oxygen.

    Question 3:
    Ans: C since Magnesium Oxide is the only Basic Oxide in the list and it will gives a pH higher than 7.

    Hope this helps. Let me know if this chemistry blogsite has been helpful in any ways.

    Keep Up The Good Work!
    Sean =)

  22. Cydnie says

    August 31, 2008 at 11:42 am

    A. Zinc
    C. sulphur
    C. magnesium

    I agree with the person above me, so I think the Qn.2 should be sulphur.

    I also think that Qn.1 should be zinc because (if I’m not wrong) the Qn states that this reaction only forms two products and metal + acid — salt + H2 gas.

  23. Gary says

    August 30, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    The second qn should be sulphur since SO2 is acidic in nature.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join My Classes Today!

O-Level Chemistry Tuition

Buy My Books from Popular Bookstores!

Read my H2 Chemistry Blog here

A-Level H2 Chemistry Blog

Copyright © 2008–2025 · SimpleChemConcepts.com · Talk to us at 88290998