Question

Sulphur dioxide is a/an
A. basic oxide
B. acidic oxide
C. neutral oxide
D. amphoteric oxide

Answer 1

Hint: All non-metallic oxides are of one particular nature when reacting with water to give corresponding acids.

Complete step by step answer:
An acidic oxide is that which can react with water to produce acid.
Sulphur dioxide is also non-metallic oxide and acidic in nature because it reacts with water to produce sulphurous acid. Sulphur is also a non-metal and its oxide \[S{{O}_{2}}\]produces sulphurous acid (\[{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{3}}\]) on reaction with water. Thus, \[S{{O}_{2}}\] is acidic in nature.
Reaction involved:
\[\begin{align}
  & S{{O}_{2}}\text{ + }{{H}_{2}}O\to \text{ }{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{3}} \\
\end{align}\]
Correct option is B.

Additional information:
An amphoteric oxide is that which reacts with both acid as well as base. Example-\[A{{l}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}\]
A basic oxide is that which reacts with water to form base. Example- \[NaOH\]
A neutral oxide is one which does not react either with acid or base. Example- \[CO\]
Note: When added to it a few drops of water and an universal indicator, it produces a weak dibasic acid, sulphurous acid,\[{{H}_{2}}S{{O}_{3}}\]. Acidic oxides are not Bronsted-Lowry acids because they do not donate protons but they are Arrhenius acids as they increase the hydrogen ion concentration of water.
Bronsted-Lowery concept is based on donation and acceptance of proton (i.e, If a compound donates the proton then it is called an acid while a compound accepts a proton is called a Base.)