Examples of Metallic Oxides
Metal + oxygen = metal oxide
Rust on a metal forms when it is exposed to high humidity and outdoors for a period of time. This creates a layer of its oxide on its surface. This causes the metallic material to weaken and disintegrate. This phenomenon of wear of the metal is called corrosion , and it reduces its usefulness when performing its functions. For this reason, anti-corrosion products are marketed to protect the surface and prevent moisture from leaving the metal susceptible to rusting.
Formation of metal oxides
Molecules of metal oxides are naturally formed by the action of oxygen in atmospheric air on the surface of metals . This process becomes easier when there is a high percentage of humidity (water vapor) in the environment. The water intervenes by providing a means for the external structure of the metal to weaken and tend to react more. Thus, the metal atoms will deliver their valence electrons to those of oxygen.
When rust forms, it appears as a powdery substance that dulls the shine of the metal. Depending on the element it comes from, it will take different colors. For example, iron oxide (Fe 2 O 3 ) is red-orange and copper oxide (CuO) is blue-green. As can be seen in the subscripts of their formulas, two iron atoms are needed to combine with three oxygen atoms (Fe 2 O 3 ), and one copper atom to join one oxygen atom (CuO).
Nomenclature of metal oxides
Metal oxides can be named in two ways based on the valence of the metal :
- With the endings bear and ico .
- With the valence in Roman numeral.
Nomenclature with bear and ico endings
To name the oxides with the endings bear and ico , follow these steps:
- The word “rust” is written
- The valence of the metal is observed
- If it is the lowest valence, the name of the metal is written with a “bear” ending. If it is the greatest valence, the name of the metal is written with the ending “ico”.
- If the metal only has one valence , it is written “oxide + of + metal name”.
For example:
- Iron Valences: +2, +3. Its oxides are FeO ferrous oxide; Fe 2 O 3 , ferric oxide.
- Copper Valences: +1, +2. Its oxides are Cu 2 O cuprous oxide; CuO, cupric oxide.
- Mercury Valences: +1, +2. Its oxides are Hg 2 O mercurous oxide; HgO mercuric oxide.
- Zinc Valencia: +2. Its oxide is ZnO, zinc oxide.
- Sodium Valencia: +1. Its oxide is Na 2 O, sodium oxide.
- Calcium Valencia: +2. Its oxide is CaO, calcium oxide.
Nomenclature with valence in Roman numeral
To name the metal oxides with their valence in Roman numerals, just follow these steps:
- The word oxide is written , followed by de .
- The name of the element is written.
- The valence of the element is written in Roman numerals.
- If the element has only one valence, the Roman numeral is omitted.
For example:
- FeO: iron oxide II
- Fe 2 O 3 : iron oxide III
- Cu 2 O: copper oxide I
- CuO: copper oxide II
- Hg 2 O: mercury oxide I
- HgO: mercury oxide II
- ZnO: zinc oxide
- Na 2 O: sodium oxide
- CaO: calcium oxide
40 examples of metal oxides
- Li 2 O: lithium oxide
- Na 2 O: sodium oxide
- K 2 O: potassium oxide
- Rb 2 O: rubidium oxide
- Cs 2 O: cesium oxide
- MgO: magnesium oxide
- CaO: calcium oxide
- SrO: strontium oxide
- BaO: barium oxide
- ZnO: zinc oxide
- FeO: ferrous oxide or iron oxide II
- Fe 2 O 3 : ferric oxide or iron oxide III
- Hg 2 O: mercurous oxide or mercury oxide I
- HgO: mercuric oxide or mercury oxide II
- TiO 2 : titanium dioxide
- SnO: stannous oxide or tin oxide II
- Sn 2 O 4 : stannic oxide or tin oxide IV
- MnO 2 : manganese dioxide or manganese oxide IV
- Mn 2 O 7 : manganese heptoxide or manganese oxide VII
- PbO: plumb oxide or lead oxide II
- Pb 2 O 4 : lead oxide or lead oxide IV
- Cu 2 O: cuprous oxide or copper oxide I
- CuO: cupric oxide or copper oxide II
- CrO: chromium oxide or chromium II oxide
- Cr 2 O 3 : chromic oxide or chromium III oxide
- CrO 3 : chromium trioxide or chromium VI oxide
- Au 2 O: aurous oxide or gold oxide I
- Au 2 O 3 : auric oxide or gold oxide II
- Ag 2 O: silver oxide
- CoO: cobalt oxide or cobalt II oxide
- Co 2 O 3 : cobalt oxide or cobalt III oxide
- WO: tungsten oxide or tungsten oxide II
- W 2 O 3 : tungsten oxide or tungsten oxide III
- W 2 O 4 : tungsten oxide IV
- W 2 O 6 : tungsten oxide VI
- PtO: platinous oxide or platinum oxide II
- Pt 2 O 3 : platinum oxide or platinum oxide III
- Cd 2 O: cadmium oxide or cadmium oxide I
- CdO: Cadmic Oxide or Cadmium Oxide II
- PdO: palladium oxide II