SME
Inorganic Chemistry
Descriptive main-group chemistry
Use this for “Is Al₂O₃ an acidic, basic or amphoteric oxide? Does it dissolve in NaOH(aq)?”
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Is the oxide acidic, basic or amphoteric?
Tap a card, then tap its group.
Find the element on the periodic table: metals on the left give basic oxides, nonmetals on the right acidic ones, and metals with small, highly charged ions both.
Assumptions
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Across a period the oxides change from basic (sodium) through amphoteric (aluminum) to acidic (chlorine), as the element becomes less metallic.
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An acidic oxide reacts with water or a base, a basic oxide with water or an acid, and an amphoteric oxide with both acids and strong bases.
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Each card names the oxide of the element’s group oxidation state.
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