Q3 / 160 · TS EAMCET 2022 (18 Jul Shift 2) · Chemistry

The correct order of decreasing acidic nature of oxides

  • A
    Li2O>BeO>CO2>B2O3>N2O3
  • B
    CO2>N2O3>B2O3>Li2O>BeO
  • C
    CO2>BeO>Li2O>B2O3>N2O3
  • Correct answer
    D
    N2O3>CO2>B2O3>BeO>Li2O

Solution

A binary compound of oxygen with another element is called oxide

Oxides can be simple (e.g., MgO, Al2O3 ) or mixed (Pb3O4 ,Fe3O4 ). Simple oxides can be classified on the basis of their acidic, basic or amphoteric character. An oxide that combines with water to give an acid is termed acidic oxide (e.g., SO2 ,Cl2O7,CO2 , N2O5 ). For example, SO2 combines with water to give H2SO3 , an acid.

 The oxides which give a base with water are known as basic oxides (e.g., Na2O, CaO, BaO). For example, CaO combines with water to give Ca(OH)2, a base.

Some metallic oxides exhibit a dual behaviour. They show characteristics of both acidic as well as basic oxides. Such oxides are known as amphoteric oxides. They react with acids as well as alkalies. For example, Al2O3 reacts with acids as well as alkalies.

There are some oxides which are neither acidic nor basic. Such oxides are known as neutral oxides. Examples of neutral oxides are CO, NO and N2O.

  Group 1 Group 2 Group 13 Group 14 Group 15
Period 2 Li Be B C N

According to periodic trend, the electronegativity of the period 2 elements increases in the order :

Li < Be < B < C < N

Electronegativty of the  central atom of the oxide is direclty proportional acidic nature of the oxide.

Therefore, the acidic character of their oxides decreases in the order as follows :

N2O3 > CO2 > B2O3 > BeO > Li2O

 

Hence, the correct answer is option: 'D'.

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