(a) Classify following oxides as neutral, acidic, basic or amphoteric:
$\mathrm{CO}, \mathrm{B}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}, \mathrm{SiO}_{2}, \mathrm{CO}_{2}, \mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}, \mathrm{PbO}_{2}, \mathrm{Tl}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}$
(b) Write suitable chemical equations to show their nature.
(1) CO = Neutral
(2) $\mathrm{B}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}=$ Acidic
Being acidic, it reacts with bases to form salts. It reacts with NaOH to form sodium metaborate.
$\mathrm{B}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{NaBO}_{2}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
(3) $\mathrm{SiO}_{2}=$ Acidic
Being acidic, it reacts with bases to form salts. It reacts with NaOH to form sodium silicate.
$\mathrm{SiO}_{2}+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{SiO}_{3}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
(4) $\mathrm{CO}_{2}=$ Acidic
Being acidic, it reacts with bases to form salts. It reacts with NaOH to form sodium carbonate.
$\mathrm{CO}_{2}+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{CO}_{3}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
(5) $\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}=$ Amphoteric
Amphoteric substances react with both acids and bases. $\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}$ reacts with both $\mathrm{NaOH}$ and $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}$.
$\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \longrightarrow \mathrm{NaAlO}_{2}$
$\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}+3 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Al}_{2}\left(\mathrm{SO}_{4}\right)_{3}+3 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
(6) $\mathrm{PbO}_{2}=$ Amphoteric
Amphoteric substances react with both acids and bases. $\mathrm{PbO}_{2}$ reacts with both $\mathrm{NaOH}$ and $\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}$.
$\mathrm{PbO}_{2}+2 \mathrm{NaOH} \longrightarrow \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{PbO}_{3}+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$
$2 \mathrm{PbO}_{2}+2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{PbSO}_{4}+2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}+\mathrm{O}_{2}$
(7) $\mathrm{Tl}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}=$ Basic
Being basic, it reacts with acids to form salts. It reacts with HCl to form thallium chloride.
$\mathrm{Tl}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}+6 \mathrm{HCl} \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{TICl}_{3}+3 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}$