Which one of the following does NOT form oxide on reaction with oxygen?

Almost all metals react with oxygen to form metal oxides, but their reactivity varies significantly. Magnesium reacts vigorously to form magnesium oxide (MgO) [1]. Lead and tin are moderately reactive; lead forms a protective oxide layer at ordinary temperatures, and tin reacts with steam to form oxides. In contrast, noble metals like silver, gold, and platinum are at the bottom of the reactivity series and do not react with oxygen even at high temperatures. While silver can form oxides through specific chemical processes, it does not form an oxide through direct reaction with gaseous oxygen under standard conditions. Therefore, among the given options, silver is the metal that does not form an oxide on direct reaction with oxygen.

Sources

1. [1] Science , class X (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Metals and Non-metals > Activity 3.9 > p. 41