Join WhatsApp Icon JEE WhatsApp Group
Question 38

The correct statements among I to III regarding group 13 element oxides are,
(I) Boron trioxide is acidic.
(II) Oxides of aluminum and gallium are amphoteric.
(III) Oxides of indium and thallium are basic.

In p-block chemistry, a very important periodic trend concerns the acidic-basic nature of the oxides. The general rule is that when we go across a period from left to right, the oxides change from basic to acidic, while when we go down a group, metallic character increases and therefore the oxides become progressively more basic.

Group 13 (also called the boron group) contains the elements $$B,\;Al,\;Ga,\;In,\;Tl$$. In this family, boron is a typical non-metal whereas the rest are metals of increasing metallic character as we proceed downward. Consequently, their oxides exhibit the following nature:

• For the top member, boron, the oxide is $$B_2O_3$$. Because boron is a non-metal, $$B_2O_3$$ shows non-metallic, i.e. acidic, behaviour. It dissolves in strong bases to give borates: $$B_2O_3\;+\;2\,OH^- \;\longrightarrow\;2\,BO_2^- \;+\;H_2O$$. Hence statement (I) is correct.

• Aluminium and gallium are positioned after boron and are much more metallic, yet they still possess some covalent character. Therefore their oxides $$Al_2O_3$$ and $$Ga_2O_3$$ can react both with acids and with bases. Oxides that behave like this are called amphoteric. Example reactions are

$$Al_2O_3 + 6\,HCl \;\longrightarrow\; 2\,AlCl_3 + 3\,H_2O$$

$$Al_2O_3 + 2\,NaOH + 3\,H_2O \;\longrightarrow\; 2\,Na[Al(OH)_4]$$

Thus statement (II) is also correct.

• Indium and thallium are even more metallic than aluminium and gallium. Their oxides $$In_2O_3$$ and $$Tl_2O_3$$ react almost exclusively with acids, showing a basic nature, for example

$$In_2O_3 + 6\,HCl \;\longrightarrow\; 2\,InCl_3 + 3\,H_2O$$

They do not readily dissolve in aqueous alkali, confirming that they are not amphoteric but predominantly basic. Hence statement (III) is correct as well.

Because all three statements I, II and III are correct, the set that lists all of them is Option C.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

Get AI Help

Video Solution

video

Create a FREE account and get:

  • Free JEE Mains Previous Papers PDF
  • Take JEE Mains paper tests

JEE Quant Questions | JEE Quantitative Ability

JEE DILR Questions | LRDI Questions For JEE

JEE Verbal Ability Questions | VARC Questions For JEE

Free JEE Topicwise Questions

JEE Rotational MotionJEE Units & MeasurementsJEE Atomic StructureJEE GravitationJEE Periodic Table & PeriodicityJEE StatisticsJEE Inverse Trigonometric FunctionsJEE Magnetism & Magnetic MaterialsJEE Sequences & SeriesJEE MatricesJEE Alternating CurrentsJEE Carboxylic AcidsJEE Permutations & CombinationsJEE Work, Energy & PowerJEE Electromagnetic InductionJEE Electronic DevicesJEE d and f-Block ElementsJEE Chemical KineticsJEE Heat TransferJEE Three Dimensional GeometryJEE Magnetic Effects of CurrentJEE Hydrocarbons - AromaticJEE Electromagnetic WavesJEE Aldehydes & KetonesJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkanesJEE Applications of DerivativesJEE EquilibriumJEE Indefinite IntegrationJEE Chemical ThermodynamicsJEE ElectrochemistryJEE ProbabilityJEE BiomoleculesJEE Continuity & DifferentiabilityJEE Kinetic Theory of GasesJEE Vector AlgebraJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkynesJEE Differential EquationsJEE Current & ResistanceJEE Straight LinesJEE WavesJEE Redox ReactionsJEE Hydrocarbons - AlkenesJEE DeterminantsJEE SolutionsJEE Ray OpticsJEE Dual Nature of Matter & RadiationJEE Chemical Bonding & Molecular StructureJEE Complex NumbersJEE Sets, Relations & FunctionsJEE Electric Charges & FieldsJEE Laws of MotionJEE Fluid MechanicsJEE Basic Concepts in ChemistryJEE Trigonometric FunctionsJEE LimitsJEE Laws of ThermodynamicsJEE Kinematics - 2D MotionJEE p-Block Elements (Groups 13-18)JEE Simple Harmonic MotionJEE Electric Potential & CapacitanceJEE Coordination CompoundsJEE JEE 2D GeometryJEE CirclesJEE Definite IntegrationJEE EMF & Circuit AnalysisJEE Surface TensionJEE Atoms & NucleiJEE Laboratory Experiments - XIJEE Number SystemJEE Basic Principles of Organic ChemistryJEE Wave OpticsJEE Quadratic EquationsJEE Alcohols, Phenols & EthersJEE Organic Compounds with HalogensJEE DifferentiationJEE Conic SectionsJEE Nitrogen-Containing CompoundsJEE ElasticityJEE Practical Organic ChemistryJEE Kinematics - 1D MotionJEE Purification & CharacterisationJEE Binomial Theorem
Ask AI