Question

Summarize the acid-base behavior of the main-group metal and nonmetal oxides in water. How does oxide acidity in water change down a group and across a period?

Answer 1

Explanation:

Metals react with oxygen to form basic oxides while they react with water to form alkaline solutions. Also, acidic oxides are oxides of nonmetals and they react with water to form acidic solutions.

Trends on the period table shows the variation of metallic character as you move across and down the periodic table. Metallic character of a element decreases across the period on the periodic table from left to right because atoms readily accept electrons in their outermost shell to form stable configurations. Metallic character increases as you move down the group in the periodic table and this is because electrons become easier to lose as the atomic radius increases (more outer shells are added), where there is decreasing attraction between the nucleus and the valence electrons.

So down the group, the acidity of oxide reaction with water decreases because the oxides are more basic down the group while across the period, the acidity of oxide increases because acidic oxides are formed as we move across the period.