Which one of the following statements is true when non-metals are dissolved in water ?

When non-metals react with oxygen, they form non-metal oxides. Most of these non-metal oxides produce acidic solutions when dissolved in water [1]. These oxides are often referred to as acid anhydrides because they react with water to generate oxyacids, such as sulfur dioxide forming sulfurous acid. While some non-metal oxides can be neutral (such as carbon monoxide or nitrous oxide), the characteristic behavior of non-metals upon dissolution in water is the formation of acidic oxides [1]. In contrast, metals typically form basic oxides that produce alkaline solutions or hydroxides when dissolved in water [1]. Therefore, the dissolution of non-metals in water is fundamentally associated with the production of acidic oxides, which have pH values lower than 7.

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals > Activity 3.8 > p. 40