Question

Which of the following is a neutral gas?
\[A.\] ${O_2}$
\[B.\] $C{O_2}$
$C.$ $S{O_2}$
$D.$ All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Gases can be classified as neutral gases, acidic gases and basic solutions depending on which type of solution they formed when dissolved in a solution. The $pH$ of these solutions are also different as they form different solutions.

Complete step by step answer:
In the given question we have to determine which gas is a neutral gas. Before knowing that we have some idea what basic, neutral and acidic gas. Let's discuss one by one. Alkaline or basic gases are those that form a basic solution, acidic gases form acidic solutions when dissolved in aqueous solution and neutral gases are those gases which form neutral solutions. Out of these gases only Oxygen gas is a neutral gas whereas $C{O_2}$ and $S{O_2}$ gases are acidic gas as they form carbonic and sulphurous acid with aqueous solution. The solutions they formed have different $pH$ at constant temperature.

So, the correct option is $A.$

Additional information:
- Oxygen $\left( {{O_2}} \right)$: Oxygen gas is a colourless, odourless and tasteless gas. Oxygen is very essential to living organisms, being taken up by animals, which convert it to carbon dioxide plants in turn utilize carbon dioxide as a source of carbon and return the oxygen to the atmosphere.
- Sulphur dioxide $\left( {S{O_2}} \right)$: It is a toxic gas responsible for the smell of burnt matches. It is released naturally by volcanic activity and is produced as a by-product of copper extraction and the burning of fossil fuel contaminated with sulfur compounds.
- Carbon dioxide $\left( {C{O_2}} \right)$: Carbon dioxide is a colourless gas. Carbon dioxide molecules consist of a carbon atom covalently double bond to two oxygen atoms. Its occurs naturally in Earth’s atmosphere as a trace of gas

Note:
The basic gases, acidic gases and neutral gases form different solutions have different $pH$ of the solution;
$pH$ of a basic solution is greater than $7$.
$pH$ of an acidic solution is less than $7$ .
$pH$ of a neutral solution is equal to $7$ .