Common examples of basic oxides are Calcium oxide, CaO, Potassium oxide K2O, sodium oxide Na2O, Zinc oxide ZnO, Aluminium oxide Al2O3, magnesium oxide MgO, Copper (II) oxide CuO, Copper (I) oxide Cu2O, etc.
Basic oxides are formed when their metals burn in air or oxygen. For example,
(i) \( \scriptsize 4Na_{(s)} \; + \; O_{2(g)} \; \rightarrow \; \underset {sodium \; oxide}{2Na_2O_{(s)}} \)
(ii) \( \scriptsize 2Ca_{(s)} \; + \; O_{2(g)} \; \rightarrow \; \underset {calcium \; oxide}{2CaO_{(g)}} \)
Most metallic oxides are insoluble in water except sodium and potassium oxide. They dissolve in water to produce hydroxide
(i) \( \scriptsize Na_2O_{(s)} \: + \: H_2O_{(l)} \: \rightarrow \: \underset{sodium\:hydroxide}{2NaOH_{(aq)}} \)
(ii) \( \scriptsize K_2O_{(s)} \: + \: H_2O_{(l)} \: \rightarrow \: \underset{potassium\:hydroxide}{2KOH_{(aq)}} \)
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