Question

a) Write one reaction in which aluminum oxide behaves as basic oxide and another in which it behaves as acidic oxide.
b) What special name is given to substances like aluminum oxide?
c) Name other metal oxide that behaves like aluminum oxide.

Answer 1

We have to know that the formula for aluminum oxide is $A{l_2}{O_3}$. It can behave as a basic oxide as well as acidic oxide. An acid can be hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid whereas bases can sodium hydroxide, sodium carbonate and many others. We are asked to give chemical reactions so do it carefully also with complete balancing the equation.

Complete answer:
In the first question it is asked to write a chemical reaction in which aluminum oxide is behaving as basic oxide and another in which it behaves as acidic oxide.
So when we react aluminum oxide with hydrochloric acid i.e. an acid we get:
$A{l_2}{O_3} + HCl \to AlC{l_3}$ $+ {H_2}O$in this reaction aluminum oxide behaves as a basic oxide.
When we react aluminum oxide with sodium hydroxide i.e. a base we get
$A{l_2}{O_3} + NaOH \to NaAl{O_2}$ $+ {H_2}O$In this reaction aluminum oxide behaves as an acidic oxide.
b) When an oxide behaves as both acidic as well as basic oxide this oxide can be known as Amphoteric oxide.
c) Now in this we have to give a metal oxide that behaves as aluminum oxide so the answer can be Zinc oxide that is also known as amphoteric oxide as it can show basic as well as acidic oxide.

Note:
We must have to know that when aluminum oxide reacts with hydrochloric acid we get
aluminum chloride as a salt on the other hand when aluminum oxide reacts with a base sodium hydroxide we get sodium aluminate as a product with water in both the cases.