Though both sodium oxide and mercury oxide are metal oxides,sodium oxide is called alkali but mercury oxide isnot.
Answers
Though both sodium oxide and mercury oxide are metal oxides, sodium oxide is called alkali but mercury oxide is not because of the following reasons:
- Metallic oxides undergoes neutralization reaction as there nature is basic so they react with dilute acid to form water and salt. Metal hydroxide are alkaline in nature which are formed on reaction of water with metallic oxide because OH− ions are released by metal hydroxide in solution.
- Sodium hydroxide is formed after dissolving sodium oxide which is alkali in water so it is an hydride of the latter.
NaoH is very similar in chemical nature to its hydrate. Same water and salt are formed after reacting sodium oxide and sodium hydroxide with acids.
- Mercuric oxide is not alkali in nature as it does not react with most of the acids such as dilute sulfuric acid.