If we were asked to order SO2,H2O,CuO and CaO considering their acidity, how do we find what is more acidic from CaO and CuO?
I would do with the rxn with H2O.
CaO + HOH ==> Ca(OH)2
CuO + HOH --> Cu(OH)2 and Cu(OH)2 is not very soluble in water.
And Ca(OH)2 is also partially soluble in water right?(a white precipitate forms)
And I've heard that as Cu is attracting electrons most Cu compounds are acidic. Is this true?
Yes, Ca(OH)2 is much more soluble than Cu(OH)2
I look at it this. way with Cu salts. CuCl2, for example, the Cl is not hydrolyzed in aqueous solution while the Cu^+2 (actually the [Cu(H2O)4]^2+ is hydrolyzed
To determine the relative acidity of CaO and CuO, we need to consider their chemical properties and analyze their reaction with water.
1. CaO: Calcium oxide, also known as quicklime, is a basic oxide. When it reacts with water, it undergoes hydrolysis to form calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2). The reaction equation is as follows:
CaO + H2O → Ca(OH)2
Since it reacts with water to form a base, CaO is not acidic.
2. CuO: Copper(II) oxide, also known as cupric oxide, is an amphoteric oxide, meaning it can act as both an acid and a base depending on the reaction conditions. When it reacts with water, it can exhibit acidic behavior. The reaction equation is as follows:
CuO + H2O → Cu(OH)2
The formation of copper hydroxide indicates the acidic nature of CuO.
Based on this analysis, we can conclude that CuO is more acidic than CaO.