Acidic oxide

An acidic oxide is an oxide that either produces an acidic solution upon addition to water, or acts as an acceptor of hydroxide ions effectively functioning as a Lewis acid. Acidic oxides will typically produce a low pKa together with may be inorganic or organic. A commonly encountered acidic oxide, carbon dioxide produces an acidic solution together with the family of carbonic acid when dissolved.

The acidity of an oxide can be reasonably assumed by its accompanying constituents. Less electronegative elements tend to hit basic oxides such(a) as sodium oxide and magnesium oxide, whereas more electronegative elements tend to produce acidic oxides as seen with carbon dioxide and phosphorus pentoxide. Some oxides like aluminium oxides are amphoteric.

Acidic oxides are of environmental concern. Sulfur and nitrogen oxides are considered air pollutants as they react with atmospheric water vapour to produce acid rain.

Further Examples

Aluminium oxide Al₂O₃ is an amphoteric oxide; it can act as a base or acid. For example, with base different aluminate salts will be formed:

Silicon dioxide is an acidic oxide. It will react with strong bases to form silicate salts.

Silicon dioxide is the anhydride of silicic acid:

PhosphorusIII oxide reacts to form phosphorous acid in water:

PhosphorusV oxide reacts with water to manage phosphoric v acid:

Phosphorus trioxide is the anhydride of phosphorous acid:

Phosphorus pentoxide is the anhydride of phosphoric acid:

Sulfur dioxide reacts with water to form the weak acid, sulfurous acid:

Sulfur trioxide forms the strong acid sulfuric acid with water:

This reaction is important in the manufacturing of sulfuric acid.

ChlorineI oxide reacts with water to form hypochlorous acid, a very weak acid:

ChlorineVII oxide reacts with water to form perchloric acid, a strong acid:

IronII oxide is the anhydride of the aqueous ferrous ion:

Chromium trioxide is the anhydride of chromic acid:

vanadous acid:

Vanadium pentoxide is the anhydride of vanadic acid: