Problem 61 - Chemistry: The Central Science

Question

(a) What is meant by the terms acidic oxide and basic oxide? (b) How can we predict whether an oxide will be acidic or basic based on its composition?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

(a) An acidic oxide is an oxide that reacts with a base to form a salt and water, usually containing non-metal elements. A basic oxide reacts with an acid to form a salt and water, typically containing metal elements. (b) To predict the nature of an oxide, observe the element combined with oxygen. If it's a metal, the oxide is likely basic; if it's a non-metal, the oxide is likely acidic. For example, \(Na_2O\) (sodium oxide) is basic and \(SO_2\) (sulfur dioxide) is acidic.

Step 1: Definition of acidic oxide and basic oxide

An acidic oxide is an oxide that can react with a base to form a salt and water. These oxides usually contain non-metal elements. A basic oxide, on the other hand, is an oxide that can react with an acid to form a salt and water. Basic oxides typically contain metal elements.

Step 2: Predicting the nature of oxide

To predict whether an oxide will be acidic or basic based on its composition, we need to observe the element with which it is combined. If the element is a metal, the oxide is likely to be basic. Conversely, if the element is a non-metal, the oxide is likely to be acidic. For example, \(Na_2O\), which is sodium oxide, is composed of a metallic element (sodium) and oxygen. Therefore, we can predict that it will be a basic oxide. On the other hand, \(SO_2\) (sulfur dioxide) is composed of a non-metal element (sulfur) and oxygen, so it's more likely to be an acidic oxide.