Two test tubes containing insoluble oxides need to be cleaned. One contains a basic oxide, CaO, and...

Question

Two test tubes containing insoluble oxides need to be cleaned. One contains a basic oxide, CaO, and the other contains an amphoteric oxide, As4O10. Suggest a way of cleaning these test tubes.

David · Accepted Answer

BASIC OXIDE: 
A basic oxide is an oxide that shows basic properties in opposition to acidic oxides and that 
either 
 reacts with water to form a base; or 
 reacts with an acid to form a salt and water. 
Examples include: 
 Sodium oxide, which reacts with water to produce sodium hydroxide 
 Magnesium oxide, which reacts with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride 
 Copper(II) oxide, which reacts with nitric acid to form copper nitrate 
Basic oxides are oxides mostly of metals, especially alkali and alkaline earth metals. 
AMPHOTERIC OXIDES : 
Zinc oxide (ZnO) reacts with both acids and with bases: 
 In acid: ZnO + 2H
+
 → Zn
2+
 + H2O 
 In base: ZnO + H2O + 2 OH
−
 → [Zn(OH)4]
2−
 
This reactivity can be used to separate different cations, such as zinc(II), which dissolves in base, 
from manganese(II), which does not dissolve in base.

Two test tubes containing insoluble oxides need to be cleaned. One contains a basic oxide, CaO, and the other contains an amphoteric oxide, As4O10. Suggest a way of cleaning these test tubes.

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