20 Examples of Metal Oxides (basic oxides)

The metal oxides (also known as basic oxides) are compounds that originate from the combination of a metal and oxygen, with the particularity of being fundamentally linked by a bond called ionic. For example: cuprous oxide, cupric oxide, zinc oxide.

They generally have the characteristic to be solid and have a point of fusion relatively high (precisely this is what is typical of them and what differentiates them from non-metallic oxides, which have a much lower one).

Metal oxides are usually crystalline and at least moderately soluble in water. Metal oxides are good drivers of hot and the electricity, and that is why it is common for them to be used for these purposes.

In its composition, metal oxides are binary combinations of a metal with oxygen, with the latter acting with a number of oxidation -2. Therefore, it is necessary to take into account the valences of the metal involved in the reaction together with oxygen to have a notion of how many atoms of the element will need to be exchanged for each oxygen atom.

Nomenclature of metal oxides

Oxides of this type have a particularity with regard to their traditional nomenclature since it is not easy to put a name to each one because each metallic element sometimes has different oxidation numbers.

On the other hand, metal oxides can also be named using the Stock nomenclature, which consists of naming them by putting: oxide of + metallic element followed by a Roman number in parentheses that corresponds to the oxidation state of the metal.

In addition, there is the systematic nomenclature, which consists of using prefixes and suffixes that indicate the amount of each atom in the compound.

For example, uranium has four oxidation states (3+, 4+, 5+, 6+), so its oxides according to each type of nomenclature can be named:

3+ oxidation state: (U₂OR₃)

Oxidation state 4+: (UO₂)

5+ oxidation state: (U₂OR₅)

6+ oxidation state: (UO₃)

Examples of basic or metallic oxides

1. Cuprous oxide (Cu₂OR). This copper oxide is insoluble in water and organic solvents.
2. Cupric oxide (CuO). It is the copper oxide with the highest oxidation number. As a mineral it is known as tenorite.
3. Cobaltous oxide (CoO). It is an inorganic monoxide with an olive green or reddish appearance in its crystalline form.
4. Auric oxide (Au₂OR₃). It is the most stable oxide of gold. It has a reddish-brown color and is insoluble in water.
5. Titanium (IV) oxide (TiO₂). It is naturally found in some minerals, in a spherical shape. It is inexpensive, safe, and abundant.
6. Zinc oxide (ZnO). It is a white compound, also known as the white zinc compound. It is slightly soluble in water but very soluble in acids.
7. Nickel oxide (Ni₂OR₃). It is a compound of nickel (it has 77% nickel in its composition). It is also known as black nickel oxide.
8. Silver (I) oxide (Ag₂OR). This compound is a fine black or brown powder that is used to prepare other silver compounds.
9. Mercuric oxide (HgO). Also Mercury (II) oxide is a compound that has an orange or red color, it occurs in solid state to temperature environment.
10. Chromic oxide (CrO). It is an inorganic chromium and oxygen compound.
11. Barium oxide (BaO). It is a hygroscopic oxide (which absorbs moisture from the environment that surrounds it).
12. Chromic oxide (Cr₂OR₃). It's a inorganic compound which is used as a pigment, chrome green.
13. Plumbous oxide (PbO). With an orange color, it is frequently used in ceramics and in the chemical industry.
14. Permanganic oxide (Mn₂OR₇). It is a very strong oxidant. It has a dark red, oily appearance, or sometimes green.
15. Ferrous oxide (FeO). It is a black powder widely used as a pigment.
16. Ferric oxide (Fe₂OR₃). It is the rust that appears when this metal is exposed to air and humidity.
17. Calcium oxide (CaO). It is the so-called lime, widely used in construction.
18. Lithium oxide (Li₂OR). It is widely used in the manufacture of ceramics.
19. Stannous oxide (SnO). It is a bluish-black oxide that is used in the manufacture of glass.
20. Stannic oxide (SnO₂). Is the principal mineral of tin, called cassiterite.

Follow with: