Question

What type of oxides are formed when metals combine with oxygen? Explain with the help of an example.

Answer 1

When metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides. Metal oxides are basic in nature. Some of the metal oxides react with water to form alkalis. Metal oxides, being basic, turn red litmus solution blue.

The intensity of the reaction with oxygen depends on the metal’s chemical reactivity. Certain metals react with oxygen at ambient temperature; others require heating, while some require intense heating to react.

Sodium metal reacts with the oxygen of air at room temperature to form a basic oxide called sodium oxide.

\[\ce{\underset{(Metal)}{\underset{Sodium}{4Na_{(s)}}} + \underset{(From air)}{\underset{Oxygen}{O2_{(g)}}} -> \underset{(Basic oxide)}{\underset{Sodium oxide}{2Na2O_{(s)}}}}\]