o-x-i-d-e
OXIDE is a chemical compound containing at least one oxygen atom bonded to another element. Common examples include rust (iron oxide), water (hydrogen oxide), and carbon dioxide. The term is fundamental in chemistry and appears frequently in scientific contexts. In word games, OXIDE is valuable due to the X (8 points), making it worth 13 base points in Scrabble. The word combines common vowels with a high-value consonant, making it both playable and strategic.
13
Points in Scrabble
Base tile values • No multipliers applied
An OXIDE is a binary chemical compound in which oxygen is combined with another element. The oxygen atom in an oxide typically has an oxidation state of -2, meaning it has gained two electrons. Oxides are among the most abundant compounds on Earth, forming when elements react with oxygen through processes like combustion, corrosion, or metabolic respiration.
Oxides can be classified into several categories based on their chemical behavior. Acidic oxides (like sulfur dioxide) react with water to form acids, while basic oxides (like calcium oxide) form bases. Amphoteric oxides (like aluminum oxide) can act as either acids or bases depending on conditions. Neutral oxides (like carbon monoxide) show neither acidic nor basic properties.
The formation of oxides is fundamental to many natural and industrial processes. Rust formation, combustion of fuels, production of metals from ores, and even biological processes like cellular respiration all involve oxide chemistry. Understanding oxides is crucial for fields ranging from materials science and metallurgy to environmental science and medicine.
The word oxide comes from the French "oxide" (1787), which was derived from combining "oxygen" + "-ide." The term was coined by French chemists Louis-Bernard Guyton de Morveau and Antoine Lavoisier as part of their revolutionary new chemical nomenclature system.
The suffix "-ide" comes from the French "-ide," originally derived from "acide" (acid). It was adopted to denote binary compounds, particularly those of a non-metal with a more electropositive element. The naming convention established that compounds ending in "-ide" typically contained only two elements.
Before the modern understanding of chemistry, substances we now call oxides were known by various names. Iron oxide was called "rust" or "iron calx," while calcium oxide was known as "quicklime" or "burnt lime." The systematic naming brought order to chemical nomenclature and reflected the new understanding of chemical composition developed during the Chemical Revolution of the late 18th century.
Oxides form through various chemical processes: direct combination with oxygen (2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO), decomposition of compounds (CaCO₃ → CaO + CO₂), or oxidation reactions. The tendency of an element to form oxides depends on its position in the reactivity series and its electronegativity relative to oxygen.
Oxides are categorized by their acid-base properties: acidic oxides (SO₂, CO₂) form acids with water; basic oxides (Na₂O, CaO) form bases; amphoteric oxides (Al₂O₃, ZnO) can act as either; and neutral oxides (CO, NO) are neither acidic nor basic. This classification helps predict chemical behavior and reactions.
In most oxides, oxygen has an oxidation state of -2. However, exceptions exist: in peroxides (H₂O₂), oxygen is -1, and in superoxides (KO₂), it's -½. The oxidation state of the other element varies depending on the compound's stoichiometry, leading to multiple oxides for many elements (FeO, Fe₂O₃).
Many industries rely on oxides: titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in white paint and sunscreen, zinc oxide (ZnO) in rubber and cosmetics, copper oxide (CuO) in electronics, and uranium oxide (UO₂) as nuclear fuel. Metal oxides are often the source ores for extracting pure metals.
Oxides play crucial roles in environmental processes. Carbon dioxide drives climate change and photosynthesis. Nitrogen oxides contribute to acid rain and smog. Metal oxides in soils affect nutrient availability. Understanding oxide behavior is essential for addressing pollution and developing green technologies.
•The X in OXIDE is worth 8 points in Scrabble, making it one of the most valuable tiles after Q (10) and Z (10)
•Mars appears red because its surface is covered with iron oxide (rust) - essentially, Mars is a rusty planet
•The most abundant oxide in Earth's crust is silicon dioxide (SiO₂), making up about 60% of the crust by weight
•Laughing gas (nitrous oxide, N₂O) is both an anesthetic and a greenhouse gas 300 times more potent than CO₂
"The metal surface developed a protective oxide layer that prevented further corrosion."
— Materials science context
"Titanium oxide nanoparticles in sunscreen provide effective UV protection."
— Consumer product context
"Playing OXIDE with the X on a triple letter score netted me 39 points!"
— Word game context
"The reduction of metal oxides is the primary method for extracting pure metals from ores."
— Metallurgy context
Similar length and difficulty words
Total base points: 13 (Scrabble)
Vowels: 3 (O, I, E) | Consonants: 2 (X, D)
Letter rarity: X is one of the rarest letters, appearing in only 0.15% of English words
Pattern: VCVCV (Vowel-Consonant-Vowel-Consonant-Vowel)
Practice unscrambling letters to find more high-scoring words like OXIDE