Question

Sulphur dioxide is a/an

• A. basic oxide
• B. acidic oxide
• C. neutral oxide
• D. amphoteric oxide

Answer 1

The correct option is B

acidic oxide

Explanation for correct option

Option b) Acidic oxide

${\mathrm{SO}}_2$ is acidic in nature.

• All non-metallic oxides are acidic in nature because they react with water to produce corresponding acids.
• Sulphur is a non-metal and its oxide ${\mathrm{SO}}_2$produces sulfurous acid ${\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3$ on reaction with water.
• ${\mathrm{SO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3$

Explanation for incorrect option

Option a) Basic oxide

• Sulphur dioxide does not show basic behavior.
• Thus this is incorrect.

Option c) Neutral oxide

• ${\mathrm{SO}}_2$ does not yield salt and water.
• Thus it is not neutral and the option is incorrect.

Option d) Amphoteric oxide

• Amphoteric oxides are those which behave both as acids and bases.
• So this option is incorrect.

Hence Sulphur dioxide is a/an acidic oxide