A basic oxide is an oxide that shows basic properties in opposition to acidic oxides and that either
It is formed by reacting oxygen with metals. Examples include:
- Sodium oxide, which reacts with water to produce sodium hydroxide
- Magnesium oxide, which reacts with hydrochloric acid to form magnesium chloride
- Copper(II) oxide, which reacts with nitric acid to form copper nitrate
Basic oxides are oxides mostly of metals, especially alkali and alkaline earth metals.
Metals form basic oxides and non-metals form acidic oxides.