Question

What type of oxide is formed when a non-metal combines with oxygen?

Hint:

Metals typically form basic oxides (e.g., \(\text{Na}_2\text{O}\), \(\text{MgO}\)).

Answer 1

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Elements react with oxygen to form oxides, which can be categorized by their acid-base properties.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Generally, when non-metals react with oxygen, they form covalent oxides.
Most of these non-metallic oxides dissolve in water to form acids. For example, Sulfur dioxide (\(\text{SO}_2\)) forms sulfurous acid, and Carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)) forms carbonic acid. Therefore, they are primarily acidic oxides.
However, some non-metal oxides do not show acidic or basic properties (e.g., Carbon monoxide \(\text{CO}\), Nitrous oxide \(\text{N}_2\text{O}\), Water \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)). These are called neutral oxides.

Step 3: Final Answer:
Non-metals generally form acidic oxides, though a few form neutral oxides.