Which of the following oxides is not highly ionic?
BeO
MgO
CaO
SrO
BaO
I believe is BeO because is an amphoteric oxide...may be I could be wrong please help me...
You are right. BeO it is.
To determine which of the given oxides is not highly ionic, we can consider the characteristics of ionic compounds. Ionic compounds typically consist of a metal cation and a nonmetal anion, and they have a large difference in electronegativity between the two elements. This large difference in electronegativity causes the electrons to transfer from the metal to the nonmetal, leading to the formation of ions with opposite charges.
Now, let's examine each given oxide:
1. BeO (Beryllium oxide): Beryllium (Be) is a metal, and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. However, BeO is not considered highly ionic because beryllium can exhibit both covalent and ionic bonding. It can form covalent bonds by sharing electrons with oxygen, making it an amphoteric oxide. So, BeO is the correct answer.
2. MgO (Magnesium oxide): Magnesium (Mg) is a metal, and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. The electronegativity difference between Mg and O is relatively large, resulting in ionic bonding. Therefore, MgO is highly ionic.
3. CaO (Calcium oxide): Calcium (Ca) is a metal, and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. The electronegativity difference between Ca and O is also significant, leading to ionic bonding. Therefore, CaO is highly ionic.
4. SrO (Strontium oxide): Strontium (Sr) is a metal, and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. Similar to calcium, the electronegativity difference between Sr and O is large, resulting in ionic bonding. Therefore, SrO is highly ionic.
5. BaO (Barium oxide): Barium (Ba) is a metal, and oxygen (O) is a nonmetal. The electronegativity difference between Ba and O is substantial, leading to ionic bonding. Therefore, BaO is highly ionic.
In summary, among the given oxides, BeO is not highly ionic because beryllium can exhibit both covalent and ionic bonding.