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Aluminium oxide and zinc oxide are both amphoteric as they can react with both acids and bases. Aluminium oxide can react with hydrochloric acid as well as sodium hydroxide to give salt and water. Zinc oxide can react with sodium hydroxide as well as with sulfuric acid to give salt and water.
Aluminium has an electronegativity of 1.5 which is right on the edge of where metals start to become acidic. This means it easily gives away its oxygen to grab water’s hydrogens forming hydroxide ions in an acid-base reaction.
Zinc on the other hand has an electronegativity of 1.0 which makes it much less acidic than aluminium. In an acid-base reaction, it takes in hydrogen from water to form a hydrate of the oxide, rather than giving it away.
Amphoteric oxides are important as they can be used to help create many different chemical, industrial and commercial products. They are commonly found in paper, glass and ceramics. They can also be used in the production of catalysts and metals.
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