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IGCSE · Practice questions · Acidic, basic and amphoteric oxides

Metal or non-metal?

Six original Cambridge-style questions on oxides: classification, the Periodic Table pattern and amphoteric behaviour.

Original questions All questions on this page are original work, written in the Cambridge IGCSE style. They are not from past papers. They test the same concepts and skills the syllabus rewards.
Keep these straight

Metal basic, non-metal acidic.

01
Recall
[4 marks]

Classify each oxide as acidic or basic: (a) calcium oxide, (b) carbon dioxide, (c) copper(II) oxide, (d) sulfur dioxide.

  • (a) basic ✓
  • (b) acidic ✓
  • (c) basic ✓
  • (d) acidic ✓
02
Explain
[2 marks]

Explain how the type of oxide formed by an element can help to show whether the element is a metal or a non-metal.

  • Metals form basic oxides, which react with acids. ✓
  • Non-metals form acidic oxides, which react with bases (and often give acidic solutions in water). ✓
03
Recall
[2 marks]

Write a word equation and a balanced symbol equation for the reaction of magnesium oxide with dilute nitric acid.

  • magnesium oxide + nitric acid → magnesium nitrate + water ✓
  • MgO + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + H2O ✓
04
Recall
[2 marks]

(Extended) Define amphoteric oxide and name one example.

  • An oxide that reacts with both acids and bases. ✓
  • Aluminium oxide (or zinc oxide). ✓
05
Analysis
[3 marks]

(Extended) Describe experiments to show that zinc oxide is amphoteric but magnesium oxide is not.

  • Add each oxide to dilute hydrochloric acid: both react (dissolve). ✓
  • Add each oxide to aqueous sodium hydroxide: zinc oxide reacts (dissolves); magnesium oxide does not. ✓
  • Reacting with both acid and base shows zinc oxide is amphoteric; magnesium oxide is basic only. ✓
06
Explain
[2 marks]

Explain why burning sulfur-containing fuels can lead to acid rain.

  • Sulfur burns to form sulfur dioxide, an acidic oxide. ✓
  • Sulfur dioxide dissolves in rainwater (and is oxidised) to form an acidic solution, acid rain. ✓

Mark this once you have attempted all six and checked your working. It records a Practiced badge on the topic and adds a one-time bonus. Revealing the solutions alone does not count.