Question

Give a reason for the following:

Zinc oxide reacts with both acid and base.

Answer 1

Zinc oxide reacts with both acids and bases because it is an amphoteric oxide.

With an acid:

\[\ce{ZnO + 2HCl → ZnCl2 ​+ H2​O}\]

With a base:

\[\ce{ZnO + 2NaOH → Na2​ZnO2 ​+ H2​O}\]

Hence, zinc oxide is called an amphoteric oxide because it reacts with both acids and bases.