Question

Metal oxides are basic and non-metal oxides are acidic in nature. Explain.

Answer 1

Metals-

• They are solid at room temperature. except for mercury.
• Lustrous- they have a shiny surface.
• Ductile- they can be drawn into wire.
• Malleable- they can be hammered or rolled into thin sheets.
• Sonorous- They produce sound when stuck with another hard substance.
• They are good conductors of heat and electricity.
• Example- Sodium, magnesium, calcium, copper, gold, etc.

Oxide of metal:

• They dissolve in water to give ${\mathrm{OH}}^{-}$ions.
• Metal oxides turn red litmus to blue.
• When acid reacts with metals oxides, they neutralize each other to give salt and water.

Hence,

Oxides of metal are basic in nature.

Non-metals-

• They are generally liquid and gases at room temperature. except for carbon.
• Lustrous- they don't have a shiny surface.
• Non- Ductile- they can't be drawn into wire.
• Non-Malleable- they can't be hammered or rolled into thin sheets.
• They are poor conductors of heat and electricity.
• Example- Hydrogen, oxygen, chlorine, solid sulphur solid carbon, etc.

Oxide of non-metal:

• They dissolve in water to give ${\mathrm{H}}^{+}$ions.
• Non-metal oxides turn blue litmus to red.
• When bases react with non-metal oxides, they neutralize each other to give salt and water.

Hence,

Oxides of non-metal are acidic in nature.