A metal 'M' reacts with oxygen to form a compound 'X'. Compound 'X' forms salt and water on reaction with both sulphuric acid and potassium hydroxide, separately. Which metal is this?

Option 1 : Aluminium

The correct answer is Aluminium.

Concept:

Metals:

• They are the elements that have a tendency to lose electrons. 
• They are electropositive in nature. 
• They are rigid, ductile, malleable, sonorous, and lustrous.

Chemical properties of metals:

• The metal reacts with oxygen to form metal oxide.
  • Metal + Oxygen → Metal oxide
• The metal reacts with an acid to form a salt.
  • Metal + Acid → Salt + Hydrogen gas
• Metals react with water to form oxides or hydroxides.
  • Metal + water → Metal oxide/ hydroxide
• Metals do not react with alkalis.
  • Metal + Alkali → No reaction

Explanation:

• Metals react with oxygen to form metal oxide. So. compound X is a metal oxide.
• Metal oxides can be basic or amphoteric in nature. 
• Amphoteric oxides: Oxides that react with both acid and base to form salt and water. 
• Out of Aluminium, Copper, Sodium and Iron, only Aluminium forms amphoteric oxide. 
• It is given that compound X reacts with both sulphuric acid and potassium hydroxide (base) to form salt and water. 
• Thus, Aluminium is the metal that will react with oxygen to form compound X.