Question

What is the nature of the oxide Na₂O? What happens when it is dissolved in water? Write the chemical equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

Sodium oxide is a basic in nature. Sodium oxide reacts with water to form an alkali called sodium hydroxide.

\[\ce{\underset{(Basic oxide)}{\underset{Sodium oxide}{Na2O_{(s)}}} + \underset{Water}{H2O_{(l)}} -> \underset{(An alkali)}{\underset{Sodium hydroxide}{2NaOH_{(aq)}}}}\]