Final answer:
The difference between zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide lies in their solubility in water, reaction with acids, and formation of complex ions. Zinc hydroxide has a very low solubility in water, while both compounds react with acids releasing hydrogen gas and forming colorless Zn2+ ions. Zinc also forms complex ions in reactions such as with copper sulfate.
Step-by-step explanation:
The difference between zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide can be classified in terms of solubility in water, color at room temperature, reaction with acids, and formation of complex ions. For solubility, zinc hydroxide has a very low solubility in water due to the presence of the common ion OH-, leading to a lower concentration of zinc ions compared to when it might be in water alone.
As for reaction with acids, both zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide react with acids. Zinc is an active metal and, when reacted with hydrochloric acid, it forms a solution of colorless Zn2+ ions. This reaction is the same for zinc oxide and zinc hydroxide and involves the evolution of hydrogen gas, as seen in the balanced chemical equation Zn(s) + 2 H+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) → Zn2+ (aq) + 2 Cl- (aq) + H2(g).
Regarding the formation of complex ions, zinc can form various complex ions in solution, especially when reacted with other substances like copper sulfate as indicated in the spontaneous redox reaction when a zinc rod is inserted into a copper(II) sulfate solution.