Acids and Oxides

Topic Description

Upon completion of this module, you should be able to describe the four types of oxides and predict if an oxide will produce an acidic, basic, or neutral solution when dissolved. An oxide is a compound that has oxygen and at least one other element. Oxides can be acidic, basic, amphoteric, or neutral. The acidity of an oxide increases from left to right in a period, as shown. The acidic oxides, such as SO3, are on the right of the periodic table and are shown in green. The basic oxides, such as MgO and Na2O, are on the left side of the periodic table and are shown in purple. Amphoteric oxides are in the middle and are shown in red. Aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is an example of amphoteric oxide. It has both acidic and basic properties.