Arrange the following oxides in order of increasing covalent character: B2O3, BeO, CO2, Li2O, N2O5.

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the concept of covalent character: Covalent character in oxides is influenced by the difference in electronegativity between the metal and oxygen. Greater the difference, more ionic the bond, and lesser the covalent character.
2. Identify the elements involved: B (Boron), Be (Beryllium), C (Carbon), Li (Lithium), and N (Nitrogen).
3. Consider the electronegativity of each element: Electronegativity increases across a period and decreases down a group in the periodic table.
4. Compare the electronegativity differences: Calculate or estimate the difference in electronegativity between each element and oxygen.
5. Arrange the oxides: Based on the electronegativity differences, arrange the oxides from the one with the smallest difference (most covalent) to the largest difference (most ionic).

Key Concepts

Covalent Character

Covalent character refers to the extent to which a bond between two atoms exhibits characteristics of covalent bonding, as opposed to ionic bonding. It is influenced by factors such as the electronegativity difference between the bonded atoms and the size of the ions involved. Generally, smaller and more electronegative atoms tend to form bonds with higher covalent character.

Electronegativity

Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons in a chemical bond. The greater the difference in electronegativity between two atoms, the more ionic the bond is likely to be. In contrast, bonds between atoms with similar electronegativities tend to be more covalent, which is crucial for determining the covalent character of oxides.

Oxide Types

Oxides can be classified based on their bonding characteristics and the elements involved. For example, metal oxides like BeO and Li2O typically exhibit ionic character, while non-metal oxides like CO2 and N2O5 show more covalent character. Understanding the nature of the oxides in question helps in arranging them according to their increasing covalent character.