Question

An element X forms two oxides XO and XO₂. The oxide XO has no action on litmus solution but oxide XO₂ turns litmus solution red.

1. What is the nature of oxide XO?
2. What is the nature of oxide ХО₂?
3. Would you call element X a metal or a non-metal? Give reason for your choice.
4. Can you give an example of element like X?

Answer 1

1. The oxide XO is neutral in nature, since it has no action on either red or blue litmus solution; it is neither acidic nor basic.
2. The oxide XO₂ is acidic because it turns blue litmus solution red, which is a characteristic behaviour of acidic oxides.
3. The element X is a non-metal because the oxides of non-metals are typically either acidic or neutral, whereas metallic oxides are basic or amphoteric.
4. Carbon is a non-metal like the element X. Carbon forms a neutral oxide, carbon monoxide (CO), and an acidic oxide, carbon dioxide (CO₂).