Sodium Oxide (Na2O)

Group - I & II Oxides Sodium Oxide Preparation : 1. By burning sodium at 180'C in a limited supply of air or oxygen and distilling off the excess of sodium in vaccum. 2Na + 1/2 O2 --180'C--> Na2O 2. By heating sodium peroxide, nitrate or nitrite with sodium Na2O2 + 2Na ---> 2Na2O 2NaNO3 + 10Na --> 6Na2O + N2 3. Sodium oxide is formed when the mixture of sodium azide and sodium nitrite is heated. 3NaN3 + NaNO2 --> 2NaNO3 + 5N2 Chemical Properties : 1. It is white amorphous substance. 2. It decomposes at 400'C into sodium peroxide and sodium. 3. It dissolve violently in water, yielding caustic soda (NaOH) and evolving a large amount of heat. Na2O + H2O --> 2NaOH Uses : It is used as dehydrating and polymerising agent in organic chemistry.