Describe the acid-base character of the oxides of the period 3 elements Na to Ar. For sodium oxide and Sulphur Trioxide, write balanced equations to illustrate their acid-base character.
The trend in the acid-base character is from strongly basic oxides to strongly acidic ones on moving from the left-hand side to the right-hand side in the periodic table.
Moving from Na to Ar in middle an amphoteric oxide (aluminum oxide) is present.
The element which shows both acidic and basic properties is known as amphoteric oxide.
Sodium oxide
Sodium oxide is a strong basic oxide which is due to the presence of the oxide ion, [tex]O_2^{-}[/tex].
It is a very strong base having a greater tendency to combine with hydrogen ions.
Sodium oxide when reacts with water releases heat energy, it produces sodium hydroxide as a product.
[tex]Na_2O + H_2O[/tex] → [tex]2NaOH[/tex]
Sodium oxide also reacts with acids due to its basic nature.
It when gives reaction with dilute hydrochloric acid produces sodium chloride and water as a product.
[tex]Na_2O + 2HCl[/tex] → [tex]2NaCl +H_2O[/tex]
2. Sulphur trioxide
Sulfur trioxide reacts violently or explosively with water to produce concentrated sulphuric acid.
