When non-metals combine with oxygen, they primarily form acidic oxides or neutral oxides.
- Acidic oxides : These oxides react with water to form acids. For example, carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolves in water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂) forms sulfurous acid, and sulfur trioxide (SO₃) forms sulfuric acid. These oxides are typical of non-metals from groups 14 to 17 and are often called acid anhydrides because they form acids upon reaction with water
- Neutral oxides : These oxides neither react with acids nor bases and do not form acidic or basic solutions in water. Examples include carbon monoxide (CO), nitric oxide (NO), and nitrous oxide (N₂O). These oxides do not form acids or bases upon reaction with water and are considered neutral
In summary, non-metal oxides are mostly acidic or neutral in nature, with acidic oxides forming acids in aqueous solutions and neutral oxides being chemically inert with respect to acid-base reactions
