The reaction of nonmetallic oxides with bases suggests that they are acidic in nature, similar to the behavior of acids when reacting with bases.
What conclusion can be drawn about the nature of nonmetallic oxides based on their reaction with bases?
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The nature of nonmetallic oxides can be concluded to be acidic based on their reactions with bases. When nonmetallic oxides, such as sulfur dioxide (SO₂) or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), react with bases, they form salts and water. The chemical equations for these reactions illustrate the acidic behavior:
SO₂(g) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na₂SO₃(aq) + H₂O(l)
NO₂(g) + 2KOH(aq) → KNO₂(aq) + H₂O(l)
These reactions confirm that nonmetallic oxides act as acids, producing salts through acid-base neutralization reactions when in contact with bases.