Question

A metal X on heating burns in air to form ${\mathrm{X}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$. Another metal Y burns in air only on strong heating to form $\mathrm{YO}$. The oxides so formed (${\mathrm{X}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ and $\mathrm{YO}$) can react with Hydrochloric acid as well as with Sodium hydroxide solution to form the corresponding salts and water.

1. What is the nature of oxide ${\mathrm{X}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$?
2. What is the nature of oxide $\mathrm{YO}$?
3. Name the metals $\mathrm{X}$ and $\mathrm{Y}$?

Answer 1

a.

The nature of oxide ${\mathrm{X}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3$ is amphoteric because it can react with both acids and bases to form salt and water.

b.

The nature of the oxide $\mathrm{XO}$ is also amphoteric because it reacts with both acids and bases to form salt and water.

c.

The metals X and Y are Aluminium and Zinc respectively.

That is,

• Aluminium metal burns in air, on heating to form Aluminium oxide.

$$\begin{gathered} 4\mathrm{Al}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2{\mathrm{Al}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Aluminium}\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{Aluminium}\mathrm{oxide} \\ \left(\mathrm{Metal}\right)(\mathrm{From}\mathrm{air})(\mathrm{Amphoteric}\mathrm{oxide}) \end{gathered}$$

• Zinc metal burns in the air only on strong heating to form Zinc oxide.

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{ZnO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right) \\ \mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{oxide} \\ (\mathrm{Amphoteric}\mathrm{Oxide}) \end{gathered}$$