Question

\[BeO + NaOH \to \]

Answer 1

Hint: The chemical name of BeO is beryllium oxide. In the given compound, beryllium is in its +2 oxidation state and oxygen is in its -2 oxidation state. The chemical name of NaOH is sodium hydroxide. During the reaction, the elimination of water molecules takes place.

Complete Step by Step Solution:
A chemical reaction has been defined as a reaction taking place between two or more reactants to form two or more products under different conditions.
The compounds with at least one oxygen atom and one another element in their chemical formula are known as oxides.

Oxides are generally three types: Acidic oxides, basic oxides and amphoteric oxides.
Acidic oxides are formed of non-metal and oxygen atoms whereas basic oxides are formed of metals and oxygen.

Beryllium is a group 2 element also known as alkaline earth metal.
Beryllium oxide is formed by a combination of beryllium and oxygen atoms. It is an amphoteric oxide. Amphoteric oxides are defined as an oxide which behaves as both acidic oxide and basic oxide.

In the given reaction beryllium oxide acts as acidic oxide as it reacts with a base to form salt as the main product by eliminating water. The reaction between beryllium oxide and sodium hydroxide is shown below:
\[BeO + 2NaOH \to N{a_2}Be{O_2} + {H_2}O\]

In the above reaction, one mole of beryllium oxide reacts with two mol of sodium hydroxide to form one mole of sodium beryllate and water.

Note: Beryllium oxide is an exception among all the group 2 elements as beryllium oxide only behaves as an amphoteric oxide whereas all the elements of group 2 behave as a basic oxide.