Question

Question 49(d)
An element X which is a yellow solid at room temperature shows catenation and allotropy. X forms two oxides which are also formed during the thermal decomposition of ferrous sulphate crystals and are the major air pollutants.

What would be the nature (acidic/ basic) of oxides formed?

Answer 1

The element is sulphur.The oxides formed are ${\text{SO}}_2$ and ${\text{SO}}_3$. The reaction involved in the oxides formation is as follows:

$2{\text{FeSO}}_4\text{(s)}\stackrel{\text{Heat}}{\to }{\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_3\text{(s)}+{\text{SO}}_2\text{(g)}+{\text{SO}}_3\text{(g)}$

Non- metal oxides are acidic in nature. Since ${\text{SO}}_2$ and ${\text{SO}}_3$ are non- metallic oxides, they are acidic oxides.