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Q. An example of a non-stoichiometric oxide when heated is

KEAMKEAM 2019The Solid State

Solution:

An example of a non-stoichiometric oxide when heated is $ZnO$. Zinc oxide is white in colour at room temperature.

On heating, it loses oxygen and turns yellow.

$ZnO \stackrel{\text { heating }}{\longrightarrow } Zn ^{2+}+\frac{1}{2} O _{2}+2 e^{-}$

Now, there is excess of zinc in the crystal and its formula become $Zn _{1+x} O$. The excess $Zn ^{2+}$ ions move to interstitial sites and the electron to the neighbouring interstitial sites.