In a serues of laboratory experiments, the oxides of Mg, Ca, Sr and Ba were shaken in a test tube with deionised wawter. Afterwards, the contents of each test tube were tested with a pH meter and it was found that, on progressing from magnesium oxide to barium oxide, the pH increased from ~7 to ~14.
(i) why should the pH, in any of these experiments, be greater than 7?
(ii)Write an ionic equation for any reaction that occurs.
(iii)Explain the increase in pH on progressing from magnesium oxide to barium oxide.
(iv) State, with your reason, what type of chemical reaction occurs in these experiments.
Type of reaction:
Reason: