Question

How will you prove that oxide formed by burning sodium is basic in nature?

Answer 1

Part 1:

Litmus paper test

• Acid - Turns litmus paper from blue to red
• Base - Turns litmus paper from red to blue

Part 2:

• When burning sodium is taken into the cylinder of oxygen, it burns with a brilliant golden yellow flame to form sodium oxide.
• The given reaction is:
• $\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Oxygen}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{oxide}}{4\mathrm{Na}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\to 2{\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}}$

Part 3:

The sodium oxide dissolves in water to form sodium hydroxide, which turns red litmus paper blue. Hence, sodium oxide is basic in nature.

$\underset{\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{Water}\mathrm{Sodium}\mathrm{hydroxide}}{{\mathrm{Na}}_2\mathrm{O}+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to \mathrm{NaOH}}$