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CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-C7.2 Oxides- Study Notes- New Syllabus

CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-C7.2 Oxides – Study Notes

CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences-C7.2 Oxides – Study Notes -CIE iGCSE Co-ordinated Sciences – per latest Syllabus.

Key Concepts:

CIE iGCSE Co-Ordinated Sciences-Concise Summary Notes- All Topics

Classification of Oxides

Oxides can be classified as acidic or basic, depending on whether they are formed by non-metals or metals.

Acidic Oxides

  • Acidic oxides are usually non-metal oxides.
  • They dissolve in water to form acids, or react with bases/alkalis to form salts.

Examples:

\( \text{SO}_2 \), \( \text{CO}_2 \)
\( \text{SO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_3 \)
\( \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \)

Example 

Why is carbon dioxide classified as an acidic oxide?

▶️Answer/Explanation

\( \text{CO}_2 \) is a non-metal oxide. It dissolves in water to form carbonic acid:
\( \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{CO}_3 \).
Therefore, it is an acidic oxide.

Example 

Explain why sulfur dioxide is considered an acidic oxide.

▶️Answer/Explanation

\( \text{SO}_2 \) is a non-metal oxide. It reacts with water to form sulfurous acid:
\( \text{SO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_3 \).
Hence, it is classified as an acidic oxide.

Basic Oxides

  • Basic oxides are usually metal oxides.
  • They react with acids to form salts and water.

Examples:

\( \text{CuO} \), \( \text{CaO} \)
\( \text{CuO} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{CuSO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)
\( \text{CaO} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{CaCl}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)

Example 

Why is copper(II) oxide considered a basic oxide?

▶️Answer/Explanation

\( \text{CuO} \) is a metal oxide. It reacts with acids such as sulfuric acid to form a salt and water:
\( \text{CuO} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{CuSO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \).
Therefore, it is a basic oxide.

Example 

Explain why calcium oxide is classified as a basic oxide.

▶️Answer/Explanation

\( \text{CaO} \) is a metal oxide. It reacts with acids like hydrochloric acid to form calcium chloride and water:
\( \text{CaO} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{CaCl}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \).
Thus, it is a basic oxide.

Amphoteric Oxides

Amphoteric oxides are oxides that can react with both acids and bases to form a salt and water. They usually come from metals that are close to the metalloid region of the periodic table (e.g., aluminium and zinc).

General Reactions:

With an acid:
\( \text{Amphoteric oxide} + \text{Acid} \rightarrow \text{Salt} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)

With a base:
\( \text{Amphoteric oxide} + \text{Base} \rightarrow \text{Salt} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)

Examples:

Aluminium oxide (\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 \)) reacts with hydrochloric acid and sodium hydroxide:

With acid:
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \)

With base:
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 2\text{NaOH} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{NaAl(OH)}_4 \)

Example 

Explain why aluminium oxide is classified as an amphoteric oxide.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Aluminium oxide reacts with acids to form salts like aluminium chloride:
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \)
It also reacts with bases to form aluminate salts:
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 2\text{NaOH} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{NaAl(OH)}_4 \)
Therefore, it is amphoteric because it can react with both acids and bases.

Example 

Write the products when zinc oxide reacts with sulfuric acid and with sodium hydroxide.

▶️Answer/Explanation

With acid:
\( \text{ZnO} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{ZnSO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)
With base:
\( \text{ZnO} + 2\text{NaOH} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{[Zn(OH)_4]} \)
Zinc oxide reacts with both acids and bases, so it is an amphoteric oxide.

Classification of Al2O3 and ZnO as Amphoteric Oxides

Aluminium oxide (\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 \)) and zinc oxide (\( \text{ZnO} \)) are classified as amphoteric oxides because they can react with both acids and bases to form a salt and water.

Reactions of Al2O3:

With acid: \( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \)
With base: \( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 2\text{NaOH} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{NaAl(OH)}_4 \)

Reactions of ZnO:

With acid: \( \text{ZnO} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{ZnSO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)
With base: \(\text{ZnO} + 2\text{NaOH} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \;\rightarrow\; \text{Na}_2[\text{Zn(OH)}_4]\)

Example 

Explain why aluminium oxide is amphoteric.

▶️Answer/Explanation

Aluminium oxide reacts with acids to form salts like aluminium chloride and with bases to form aluminates:
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 6\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{AlCl}_3 + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \)
\( \text{Al}_2\text{O}_3 + 2\text{NaOH} + 3\text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow 2\text{NaAl(OH)}_4 \)
This dual behaviour makes it amphoteric.

Example 

Why is zinc oxide classified as an amphoteric oxide?

▶️Answer/Explanation

Zinc oxide reacts with acids to form salts and with bases to form complex zincates:
\( \text{ZnO} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{ZnSO}_4 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)
\( \text{ZnO} + 2\text{NaOH} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{[Zn(OH)_4]} \)
Because it can react with both acids and bases, ZnO is amphoteric.

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