JEE Main · 2021 · Shift-IImediumPERI-034

Which pair of oxides is acidic in nature?

Classification of Elements & Periodicity · Class 11 · JEE Main Previous Year Question

Question

Which pair of oxides is acidic in nature?

Options
  1. a

    \ceB2O3\ce{B2O3}, \ceCaO\ce{CaO}

  2. b

    \ceN2O\ce{N2O}, \ceBaO\ce{BaO}

  3. c

    \ceCaO\ce{CaO}, \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2}

  4. d

    \ceB2O3\ce{B2O3}, \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2}

Correct Answerd

\ceB2O3\ce{B2O3}, \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2}

Detailed Solution

🧠 Acidic oxide = non-metal/metalloid oxide; you need BOTH compounds in the pair to be acidic The question is asking for a pair where every member is acidic. So even one basic or neutral oxide kills the option.

🗺️ Check each oxide \ceB2O3\ce{B2O3}: B is a metalloid, behaves like a non-metal here. Dissolves in water as boric acid. Acidic. \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2}: Si is a metalloid leaning non-metal. Reacts with NaOH to give silicate. Acidic. \ceCaO\ce{CaO}: Ca is a Group 2 metal. Reacts with water to give \ceCa(OH)2\ce{Ca(OH)_2}. Basic. \ceBaO\ce{BaO}: Ba is a Group 2 metal. Even more basic than CaO. Basic. \ceN2O\ce{N2O} (laughing gas): N in low oxidation state. Does not react with acid or base. Neutral.

Now scan the options: (a) \ceB2O3\ce{B2O3} acidic + \ceCaO\ce{CaO} basic — mixed. ✗ (b) \ceN2O\ce{N2O} neutral + \ceBaO\ce{BaO} basic — neither acidic. ✗ (c) \ceCaO\ce{CaO} basic + \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2} acidic — mixed. ✗ (d) \ceB2O3\ce{B2O3} acidic + \ceSiO2\ce{SiO2} acidic — both acidic. ✓

⚠️ The trap Don't confuse \ceN2O\ce{N2O} with \ceNO2\ce{NO2} or \ceN2O5\ce{N2O5}. Higher nitrogen oxides ARE acidic, but \ceN2O\ce{N2O} at the +1 oxidation state of nitrogen is neutral. Always check the oxidation state of nitrogen before classifying its oxide.

Answer: (d)\boxed{\text{Answer: (d)}} visit the interactive periodic table page to revise all the acidic, basic, and amphoteric oxides. image

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