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Science — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [1]
Assertion (A) : Sodium oxide is an amphoteric oxide. Reason (R) : Metal oxides which react with both acids as well as bases are known as amphoteric oxides.
  1. (a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  2. (b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of the Assertion (A).
  3. (c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
  4. (d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 31/2/1 Q17
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:48 · grounding rag
Model Answer

(d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Sodium oxide (Na₂O) is a basic oxide, not amphoteric. Amphoteric oxides (e.g., Al₂O₃, ZnO) react with both acids and bases — the definition in Reason (R) is correct.

Source: What you have learnt, Chapter 3

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Explanation

The key distinction: Na is an active metal, so Na₂O is purely basic. Only oxides like Al₂O₃ and ZnO (mentioned explicitly in the textbook) are amphoteric. The definition of amphoteric oxide given in Reason (R) is accurate, making (d) the correct option. Examiners expect students to recall specific examples of amphoteric oxides from Chapter 3.

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