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Which metal oxides are soluble in water? Explain

Question

Which metal oxides are soluble in water? Explain

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Solution

Certain metal oxides are soluble in water. These are typically the oxides of alkali metals and alkaline earth metals, for example, sodium oxide (Na2O) and calcium oxide (CaO).

Here's a step-by-step explanation:

  1. Metal oxides are compounds that contain a metal and oxygen. They are typically ionic compounds, which means they are made up of charged particles.

  2. When an ionic compound dissolves in water, it breaks apart into its individual ions. This process is called dissociation.

  3. The oxides of alkali metals (Group 1 on the periodic table) and alkaline earth metals (Group 2 on the periodic table) are more likely to dissolve in water. This is because these metals form positive ions with a charge of +1 or +2, which can be balanced by the -2 charge on the oxide ion (O2-).

  4. For example, when sodium oxide (Na2O) dissolves in water, it dissociates into two sodium ions (Na+) and one oxide ion (O2-). The sodium ions are attracted to the negative end of the water molecules, and the oxide ions are attracted to the positive end of the water molecules, which helps to pull the ions apart and dissolve the compound.

  5. Similarly, when calcium oxide (CaO) dissolves in water, it dissociates into one calcium ion (Ca2+) and one oxide ion (O2-). The calcium ions are attracted to the negative end of the water molecules, and the oxide ions are attracted to the positive end of the water molecules.

  6. However, not all metal oxides are soluble in water. The oxides of transition metals and post-transition metals are typically insoluble in water. This is because these metals form positive ions with higher charges, which are not as easily balanced by the -2 charge on the oxide ion. As a result, these compounds do not dissociate in water and are not soluble.

  7. It's also worth noting that some metal oxides, such as aluminum oxide (Al2O3), are amphoteric, meaning they can act as both acids and bases. These oxides can react with both acids and bases to form salts and water, but they do not dissolve in water.

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