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”