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Nature of

Oxides
Learning Outcome :
Predict the acidic-basic character
of the oxides of an element from the
position of the element in the periodic
table.
Write equations for the reactions of
oxides of non-metals such as SiO2,
CO2, SO2, and P4O10 with hydroxide
ions and water, where reaction
occur.
Write equations for the reactions of
oxides of metals such as MgO, Na2O,
CuO and Fe2O3 with acids and with
water, where reaction occurs.
Write equations for the reactions of
amphoteric oxides such as Al2O3 and
ZnO with hydrogen ions or
hydroxide ions.
Types of Oxides
Acidic

Basic
Amphoteric
Oxides of Period 3

Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
Basic Amphoteric Acidic
Eleme Na Mg Al Si P S Cl
nt
Formul Na2O MgO Al2O3 SiO2 P4O6 SO2 Cl2O
a of P4O10 SO3 Cl2O3
oxide Cl2O5
Cl2O7
Bondin Ionic Continuous Polar covalent
g covalent
Struct Ionic Continuous Simple molecules
ure lattice covalent

Reacti Oxide in lattice Insoluble Reacts to form acidic


on reacts solutions
with Vigorous for
water group I

Reacti Form salts Non-reactive as these are acidic oxides


on
with
acids
Most of the Period 3 elements react
with oxygen to form an oxide.
a) Na burns in oxygen with a brighter
flame to produce Na2O (white)

4Na(s) + O2(g) 2Na2O (s)


Na2O is a basic oxide.
It dissolves easily in water to form
NaOH (alkaline solution with pH
14)

Na2O(s) + H2O (l) 2NaOH (aq)


b) Mg burns in oxygen with a brilliant,
white flame to produce MgO (white).

2Mg (s) + O2 (g) 2MgO(s)


MgO is a basic oxide.
It is slightly soluble in water to form an
alkaline solution with pH 10.
It dissolves in an acid to form salt &
water.

MgO(s) + 2HCl (l) MgCl2 (aq) + H2O


(l)
c) Al burns in oxygen with a brilliant,
white flame to produce Al2O3 (ionic oxide
with covalent character)

4Al (s) + 3O2 (g) 2Al2O3 (s)


Al2O3 is an amphoteric oxide. It is very
insoluble in water. It exhibits its basic
property when it reacts with an acid to
form salt and water.

Al2O3 (s) + 6HCl (l) 2AlCl3(aq) + 3H2O (l)


Al2O3 exhibits its acidic property
when it reacts with an alkali.

Al2O3(s) + 2NaOH(aq) + 3H2O(l)


2NaAl(OH)4
(aq)
d) Si burns slowly in oxygen to produce
Silicon (IV) oxide (white covalent solid).

Si (s) + O2(g) SiO2 (s)


Si and O atoms in SiO2 are held
together by strong covalent bonds in a
3D covalent network. Hence its melting
point is higher than other covalent oxides.
It is an acidic oxide. It is insoluble in
water but it dissolves slowly in hot,
concentrated NaOH to form silicate
salt and water.

SiO2(s) + 2NaOH(aq) Na2SiO3(aq)


+H2O(l)
e) White phosphorus burns in oxygen at
40C to form a white solid P 4O10.
Red phosphorus burns in oxygen at
300C to form P4O6.

P4 (s) + 5O2 (g) P4O10 (s) (white


phosphorus)
P4(s) + 3 O2(g) P4O6(s) (red phosphorus)
P4O10 as an acidic oxide which dissolves
in water to form an acidic solution.
It dissolves in alkalis to form salts and
water.

P4O6 (s) + 6H2O (l) 4H3PO3 (aq)


Phosphorus acid
P4O10 (s) + 6H2O (l) 4H3PO4 (aq)
Phosphoric acid
f) S burns in oxygen with blue flame to
produce colourless gas SO2.
S (s) + O2 (g) SO2 (g)
In excess oxygen, a catalyst SO3 is formed.
SO2 (g) + O2 (g) 2SO3 (g)

SO2 and SO3 are acidic oxides. They


dissolve
in water to form acidic solutions.
These oxides dissolve in alkalis to form
salts
and water.
SO2 (g) + H2O(l) H2SO3 (aq)
SO3 (g) + H2O(l) H2SO4 (aq)
g) The oxides of chlorine are all acidic
oxides which dissolve in water to form
acidic
solutions.
These oxides dissolve in alkalis to form
salts
and water.
Cl2O (g) + H2O (l) 2HOCl (aq)
Hypochlorous acid
Cl2O7 (l) + H2O (l) 2HClO4 (aq)
Perchloric acid
Metal Oxides ( Basic)
Reaction with water
Group I oxides soluble/ can react with
water.
Group II oxides slightly soluble/ react
slowly with water.
Other metal oxides insoluble/ cannot
react with water.
Example Group I : Sodium (Na)
Na2O (s) + H2O (l) 2 NaOH (aq)
(very soluble)

Example Group II : Magnesium (Mg)


MgO (s) + H2O (l) Mg(OH)2 (aq)
(slightly soluble)

Example : Copper (Cu)


CuO (s) + H2O (l) No reaction
Reaction with acid

Acid + Base (alkaline) Salt + Water

Example Group I : Sodium (Na)


Na2O (s) + 2H+ (aq) 2Na+(aq) + H2O (l)

Example Group II : Magnesium (Mg)


MgO (s) + 2H+ (aq) Mg2+ (aq) + H2O (l)
Non-metal oxide (acidic)
Reaction with water
CO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2CO3 (aq)
Carbonic acid

SO2 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO3 (aq)


Sulfurous acid
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (aq)
Sulfuric acid
Reaction with alkali (OH-)
Acid + Alkali Salt + Water

CO2 (g) + 2OH- (aq) CO32-(aq) +


H2O(l)
Carbonate ion
SO2(g) + OH- (aq) SO32- (aq) + H2O(l)
Sulfite ion
SO3(g) + OH- (aq) SO42- (aq) + H2O(l)
Sulfate ion
Metalloid oxide
(Amphoteric)
Reaction with acid

Al2O3 (s) + 6H+ (aq) 2Al3+ (aq) +


3H2O(l)

ZnO (s) + 2H+ (aq) Zn2+ (aq) + H2O


(l)
Reaction with alkali (OH-)

Al2O3 (s) + 2OH- (aq) + 3H2O(l)


2Al(OH)4- (aq)
Aluminate ion
Al2O3 (s) + 2OH- (aq) 2AlO2- (aq) +
H2O(l)

ZnO (s) + 2OH- (aq) + H2O (l) Zn(OH)42-


Zincate ion
ZnO (s) + 2OH- (aq) ZnO22- + H2O (l)
Question 1
Barium oxide, BaO and Lithium
oxide Li2O are both basic oxides.
a) Write an equation for the reaction
of BaO with hydrogen ions.
b) Write an equation for the reaction
of Li2O with water.
Question 2
One of the oxides of chlorine is Cl 2O. It
is an acidic oxide with a corresponding
oxyanion, ClO- (hypochlorite) and a
corresponding oxyacid HClO
(hypochlorus acid).
a) Write an equation for the reaction of
Cl2O with hydroxide ions.

b) Write an equation for the reaction of


Cl2O with water.
Question 3
Write reaction equations for the
following oxides with water :
a) P4O10
b) Na2O
c) SO2
Exercise
Write equation to show the acidic-
basic character for the following
oxides :
a) Na2O
b) MgO
c) Al2O3
d) ZnO
e) CO2
f) SO2
g) SiO2
h) P4O10
i)SO3
j) Fe2O3
k) Li2O
l) CuO
m) CaO

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