Which is more basic Na2O and MgO?

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Aditya Raj Anand 16.07K March 10, 2025 0 Comments

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score 0 · Answer 1 · 2025-03-11T02:24:38+00:00

Which is more basic, Na₂O or MgO?

Sodium oxide (Na₂O) is more basic than magnesium oxide (MgO) because it forms a stronger alkaline solution when dissolved in water. The difference in basicity arises due to the nature of the metal oxides, their ionic character, and their solubility in water.

Comparison of Basicity

Sodium Oxide (Na₂O) – Stronger Base
- Highly soluble in water, forming a strongly basic solution: $Na2O+H2O→2NaOHNa_2O + H_2O \rightarrow 2NaOH$
- Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base, meaning Na₂O is highly basic.
- More ionic character due to sodium’s low electronegativity, making Na₂O more reactive with water.
Magnesium Oxide (MgO) – Weaker Base
- Less soluble in water, forming a weakly basic solution: $MgO+H2O→Mg(OH)2MgO + H_2O \rightarrow Mg(OH)_2$
- Magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂) is a weak base, meaning MgO is less basic than Na₂O.
- More covalent character due to higher charge density on Mg²⁺, making MgO less reactive with water.

Why is Na₂O More Basic?

Greater solubility in water leads to a higher concentration of OH⁻ ions.
Stronger ionic character in Na₂O makes it more reactive with water.
NaOH is a strong base, while Mg(OH)₂ is a weak base due to its limited dissociation.

Thus, Na₂O is more basic than MgO because it dissolves completely in water to form a strong base (NaOH), while MgO is only slightly soluble and forms a weak base (Mg(OH)₂).