What is Amphoteric oxide?
'''Amphoteric oxides''' are oxides which have properties of both acidic and basic oxides.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://byjus.com/chemistry/amphoteric-oxides/ | title=Amphoteric oxide- Definition , Identification, Examples, Videos and FAQs of Amphoteric oxide }}</ref> The property is known as [[amphoterism]]. Generally non-metallic oxides are acidic and metallic oxides are basic. Some non-metallic oxides are [[Neutral oxide|neutral]] and some metallic and semi-metallic oxides are amphoteric. As these oxides can act as either an acid or a base, they can neutralize both acids and bases. For example, aluminium oxide (Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>) reacts with hydrochloric acid to form aluminium chloride and water. With sodium hydroxide solution it reacts into sodium aluminate (NaAlO<sub>2</sub>) and water. == Examples of amphoteric oxides and their reactions == Amphoteric oxides have both acidic and basic properties. The oxides of aluminium and zinc can be used as examples. They react with acids and alkalis to form salts and water. The metals become cations in the former case and [[Ion#Common ions|oxoanions]] in the latter. '''Examples:''' '''Zn'''O(s) + 2 HNO<sub>3</sub>(aq) → '''Zn'''(NO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>(aq) + H<sub>2</sub>O(l) '''Zn'''O(s) + 2 NaOH(aq) → Na<sub>2</sub>'''ZnO<sub>2</sub>'''(aq) + H<sub>2</sub>O(l) '''Al'''<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>(s) + 6 HCl(aq) → 2 '''Al'''Cl<sub>3</sub>(aq) + 3 H<sub>2</sub>O(l) '''Al'''<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>(s) + 2 NaOH(aq) → 2 Na'''AlO<sub>2</sub>'''(aq) + H<sub>2</sub>O(l) ZnO, BeO, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MnO<sub>2</sub>, Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, PbO, SnO are all amphoteric. Zincates (ZnO<sub>2</sub><sup>2-</sup>) and aluminates (AlO<sub>2</sub><sup>–</sup>) have the ending -ate to show that their ions are compound ions containing oxygen – rather like sulfates, carbonates and nitrates. Note that sodium zincate and sodium aluminate are soluble in water.<ref>{{Cite web|title=What are Amphoteric Oxides? - Definition, Examples with Videos & FAQs|u