Which oxides are acidic?

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Multiple Choice

Which oxides are acidic?

Explanation:
Oxides can behave as acids, bases, or both in different situations. Acidic oxides are typically nonmetal oxides that form acids when they dissolve in water or react with bases to give salts. Carbon dioxide dissolves in water to make carbonic acid (H2CO3), and sulfur dioxide forms sulfurous acid (H2SO3). These oxides therefore act as acidic oxides. In contrast, oxides of metals like sodium and magnesium form hydroxides in water (NaOH and Mg(OH)2), which makes the solution basic. Aluminum oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric; they can react with both acids and bases, but they aren’t classically acidic oxides. Hydrogen chloride is not an oxide at all, since it contains no oxygen. So the oxides that are acidic are the ones like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

Oxides can behave as acids, bases, or both in different situations. Acidic oxides are typically nonmetal oxides that form acids when they dissolve in water or react with bases to give salts.

Carbon dioxide dissolves in water to make carbonic acid (H2CO3), and sulfur dioxide forms sulfurous acid (H2SO3). These oxides therefore act as acidic oxides.

In contrast, oxides of metals like sodium and magnesium form hydroxides in water (NaOH and Mg(OH)2), which makes the solution basic. Aluminum oxide and zinc oxide are amphoteric; they can react with both acids and bases, but they aren’t classically acidic oxides. Hydrogen chloride is not an oxide at all, since it contains no oxygen.

So the oxides that are acidic are the ones like carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide.

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