The most acidic oxide is:

Options

A. `SO_(2)`
B. `SO_(3)`
C. `NO_(2)`
D. `Cl_(2)O_(7)`

Answer

To determine the most acidic oxide among the given options (SO2, SO3, NO2, Cl2O7), we need to analyze the oxidation states of the central atoms in each oxide and their corresponding covalent character. The acidic nature of an oxide generally increases with the oxidation state of the central atom, as higher oxidation states tend to have greater covalent character.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Oxides and Their Central Atoms**:
- The oxides in question are SO2, SO3, NO2, and Cl2O7.
- The central atoms are sulfur (S) for SO2 and SO3, nitrogen (N) for NO2, and chlorine (Cl) for Cl2O7.

2. **Calculate the Oxidation State of Each Central Atom**:
- **For SO2**:
- Let the oxidation state of sulfur be \( x \).
- The equation is: \( x + 2(-2) = 0 \)
- Solving gives: \( x - 4 = 0 \) → \( x = +4 \).

- **For SO3**:
- Let the oxidation state of sulfur be \( x \).
- The equation is: \( x + 3(-2) = 0 \)
- Solving gives: \( x - 6 = 0 \) → \( x = +6 \).

- **For NO2**:
- Let the oxidation state of nitrogen be \( x \).
- The equation is: \( x + 2(-2) = 0 \)
- Solving gives: \( x - 4 = 0 \) → \( x = +4 \).

- **For Cl2O7**:
- Let the oxidation state of chlorine be \( x \).
- The equation is: \( 2x + 7(-2) = 0 \)
- Solving gives: \( 2x - 14 = 0 \) → \( x = +7 \).

3. **Compare the Oxidation States**:
- SO2: +4
- SO3: +6
- NO2: +4
- Cl2O7: +7

4. **Determine the Most Acidic Oxide**:
- The oxide with the highest oxidation state is Cl2O7 (+7).
- Higher oxidation states generally indicate a greater covalent character and thus a more acidic nature.

5. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, the most acidic oxide among the given options is **Cl2O7**.

### Final Answer:
The most acidic oxide is **Cl2O7**.