Oxide

An oxide is a chemical compound of oxygen with other chemical elements, e.g. rust (iron oxide) or bauxite (aluminium oxide), usually created through the process of oxidation. Oxides are extremely common in Earth's crust, and indeed in solid matter throughout the universe. Oxides can be named by how many oxygen atoms are in the molecule, dioxide for 2, trioxide for 3, tetroxide for 4, pentoxide for 5, hexoxide for 6, and heptoxide for 7.

There are two other types of oxide - peroxide and superoxide. Both count as oxides but have different oxidation states and form different compounds compared to oxides.

Generally, oxides are not conductive to electricity. This property is most commonly taken advantage of with silicon dioxide, as silicon can easily be oxidized and the resulting part can be made into a transistor. This is the basis for much of modern computer technology. Oxides that also contain a metal atom are basic anhydrides.

In the 18th century, oxides were named calx after the calcination process used to produce oxides. Calx was later replaced by oxyd.

Examples

• water, hydrogen oxide (H₂O)
• sodium oxide (Na₂O)
• carbon dioxide (CO₂)
• sulfur trioxide (SO₃)

See category for a bigger list.

Common oxides sorted by oxidation state

• element in (I) state
  • copper(I) oxide (Cu₂O)

• element in (II) state
  • copper(II) oxide (CuO)
  • iron(II) oxide (FeO)

• element in (III) state
  • aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃)
  • dinitrogen trioxide (N₂O₃)

• element in (IV) state
  • chlorine dioxide (ClO₂)
  • manganese dioxide (MnO₂)
  • nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)
  • silicon dioxide (SiO₂)
  • sulfur dioxide (SO₂)
  • thorium dioxide (ThO₂)
  • titanium dioxide (TiO₂)

See also

• hydroxide

Oxide can also refer to Oxide Design Co., a U.S. strategic design firm.

See also: Oxide