Chemical Properties of Non-Metals

Question 1 What happen when carbon react with oxygen?

Question 2 What happen when sulphur react with oxygen?

Reaction Of Non-Metals with Oxygen

Non-Metals react with oxygen to form acidic oxides or neutral oxides.

Carbon form an acidic oxide carbon dioxide.

Sulphur form an acidic oxide sulphur dioxide.

Hydrogen form a neutral oxide water.

The acidic oxides of non-metals turn blue litmus solution to red.

C(s) + O₂ (g) ——> CO₂  (g)

CO₂  (g) + H₂0 (l) —–> H₂CO₃  (aq)

S (s) + O₂ (g) ——> SO₂  (g)

SO₂  (g) + H₂0 (l) —–> H₂SO₃  (aq)

Reaction of non-metal with water
They do not react with water to evolve hydrogen gas.

Reaction of non-metals with acids
They do not react with dilute acids. They do not displace hydrogen from acids.

Reaction of Non-metals with salt solution
A more reactive non-metal displaces a less reactive non-metal from its salt solution.

Reaction of Non-metal with chlorine
Non-Metals react with chlorine to form covalent chlorides which are non-electrolytes.

Reaction of Non-metals with hydrogen
Non-Metals react with hydrogen to form covalent hydrides.