Question

Copper oxide with HCl is a ---- reaction.
(A)Acidification
(B)Alkaline
(C)Neutralization
(D)Hydrolysis

Answer 1

Hint: Metal oxides are usually basic in nature. When they react with acid, products are salt and water. Copper oxide is a weak base. In a neutralization reaction, acid reacts with base to form salt and water. Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid.

Complete solution step by step:
-Copper does not react with hydrochloric acid. As a metal acid reaction leads to redox reaction. Copper has a higher reduction potential than hydrogen, so it does not react with mineral acids like hydrochloric acid or sulphuric acid.
-Copper oxide is a metal oxide and it is weak in nature. Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid.
-Metal oxides are usually basic in nature. Copper oxide is basic, so it reacts with hydrochloric acid to form copper chloride and water.
$$CuO+2HCl\to CuC{l}_2+H_{2}O$$
-When acid and base react to form salt and water, the reaction is called neutralization reaction.
- Neutralization is an acid base type reaction which is non redox in nature.
So, in case of reaction of copper oxide and hydrochloric acid, salt which is copper chloride and water are produced, it is an example of neutralization reaction.

Hence, Copper oxide with HCl is a (C) Neutralization reaction.

Note: Copper chloride is soluble in water. In hydrolysis reactions, salt reacts with ions of water to form acidic or basic solutions. Acidification reaction is a reaction of making or converting to acidic substance. Alkaline is the process of making or converting into a basic substance.