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  • Hydrolysis Reaction: Understanding Metal Oxide + Water
    The reaction you've described is a chemical reaction called a hydrolysis reaction.

    Here's a breakdown:

    * Water (H₂O) acts as a reactant.

    * Metal oxide (MO), where M represents a metal, also acts as a reactant.

    * Hydroxide (OH⁻) is formed as a product.

    The general reaction is:

    MO + H₂O → M(OH)₂

    Example:

    Sodium oxide (Na₂O) reacts with water to form sodium hydroxide (NaOH):

    Na₂O + H₂O → 2NaOH

    Explanation:

    The reaction involves the water molecules reacting with the metal oxide, breaking the metal-oxygen bond and forming a metal hydroxide. In the process, hydrogen ions (H⁺) from the water combine with the oxide ions (O²⁻) to form hydroxide ions (OH⁻).

    This reaction is important because it demonstrates how metal oxides can react with water to form basic solutions, which are often used in various industrial and chemical processes.

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