Which oxide, CrO3 or CrO, is more basic in water? Why?

Answer 1

To determine which oxide, CrO3 or CrO, is more basic in water, we need to consider their chemical properties and behavior in water.

1. CrO (chromium(II) oxide) is a basic oxide. It reacts with acids to form salts and can also react with water to form hydroxides, contributing to basicity.

2. CrO3 (chromium(VI) oxide), on the other hand, is an acidic oxide. When CrO3 dissolves in water, it tends to form chromic acid (H2CrO4), which exhibits acidic properties.

In summary, because CrO is a basic oxide and can generate hydroxide ions in solution, while CrO3 is an acidic oxide that leads to the formation of an acid, CrO is the more basic oxide when considering their behavior in water. Therefore, CrO is more basic than CrO3 in water.