J.R. S. answered • 12/28/17
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Ph.D. in Biochemistry--University Professor--Chemistry Tutor
Well, the short answer is that aluminum oxide (Al2O3) is insoluble in water and does not react with water like Na2O and MgO do. The reaction of these 2 metallic oxides are:
Na2O + H2O ==> 2NaOH
MgO + H2O ==> Mg(OH)2
If Al2O3 were to follow this type reaction (which it does not), you might expect something like...
Al2O3 +3H2O ==> 2Al(OH)3