Question

Among the following, the one which is most basic is

• A. ZnO
• B. MgO
• C. $AI_2O_3$
• D. $N_2O_5$

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

To determine which of the compounds is the most basic among ZnO, MgO, AI_2O_3, and N_2O_5, let's analyze their chemical properties:

1. Zinc Oxide (ZnO): ZnO is an amphoteric oxide. This means it can react both as an acid and as a base, showing no strong tendencies towards basicity.
2. Magnesium Oxide (MgO): MgO is a basic oxide. It reacts with water to form magnesium hydroxide, a strong base:
   MgO + H_2O \rightarrow Mg(OH)_2.
   This implies that MgO has strong basic characteristics.
3. Aluminum Oxide (Al_2O_3): Al_2O_3 is also an amphoteric oxide similar to ZnO. It can react with acids and bases, indicating no strong basic property.
4. Nitrogen Pentoxide (N_2O_5): N_2O_5 is an acidic oxide. It dissolves in water to form nitric acid, which exhibits acidic behavior:
   N_2O_5 + H_2O \rightarrow 2HNO_3.

From this analysis, MgO is the only compound that behaves as a strong base by forming magnesium hydroxide when reacting with water. Hence, the most basic compound among the options provided is MgO.