Examples of Oxides
The following table gives examples of commonly encountered oxides. Only a few representatives are given, as the number of polyatomic ions encountered in practice is very large.
| Name | Formula | Found/Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Water (hydrogen oxide) | H2O | Common solvent, Required by Carbon-based life |
| Nitrous oxide | N2O | Laughing gas, anesthetic (used in a combination with diatomic oxygen to make Nitrous oxide and oxygen anesthesia), produced by Nitrogen-fixing bacteria, Nitrous, oxidizing agent in rocketry, aerosol propellant, recreational drug, greenhouse gas. Other nitrogen oxides such as NO2 (Nitrogen dioxide), NO(Nitrogen oxide), N2O3 (Dinitrogen trioxide) and N2O4 (Dinitrogen tetroxide) exist, particularly in areas with notable air pollution. They are also strong oxidisers, can add Nitric acid to Acid rain, and harmful to health. |
| Silicon dioxide | SiO2 | Sand, quartz |
| Iron(II,III) oxide | Fe3O4 | Iron Ore, Rust, along with iron(III) oxide (Fe2O3) |
| Aluminium oxide | Al2O3 | Aluminium Ore, Alumina, Corundum, Ruby (Corundum with impurities of Chromium). |
| Zinc oxide | ZnO | Reqiured for vulcanization of rubber, additive to concrete, sunscreen, skin care lotions, antibacterial and antifungal properties, food additive, white pigment. |
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | Constituent of the atmosphere of Earth, the most abundant and important greenhouse gas, used by plants in photosyntheis to make sugars, product of biological processes such as respiration and chemical reactions such as combustion and chemical decomposition of carbonates. CO or Carbon monoxide exists as a product of incomplete combustion and is a highly toxic gas. |
| Calcium oxide | CaO | Quicklime (used in construction to make mortar and concrete), used in Self-heating cans due to exothermic reaction with water to produce Calcium hydroxide, possible ingredient in Greek fire and produces limelight when heated over 2,400 °Celsius. |
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