Define reducing agent giving an example. Balance the following redox reaction by oxidation number or ion electron method: [1+4] MnO 2 + HCl MnCl 2 + Cl 2 + H 2O

Define reducing agent giving an example. Balance the following redox reaction by… – Chemistry NEB 2076 (old course) Solution

Model Answer

1. Definition of Reducing Agent with Example

A reducing agent is a substance that loses electrons (or increases the oxidation state of another species) in a redox reaction. It itself gets oxidized while reducing another species. Reducing agents are electron donors and typically contain elements in a low oxidation state.

Example: In the reaction between zinc and copper sulfate, $Zn + CuSO X_{4} ZnSO X_{4} + Cu$ Zinc ( $Zn$ ) acts as a reducing agent because it loses electrons to reduce $Cu X^{2 +}$ to $Cu$ while itself getting oxidized to $Zn X^{2 +}$ .

2. Balancing the Redox Reaction: $MnO X_{2} + HCl MnCl X_{2} + Cl X_{2} + H X_{2} O$

Method: Ion-electron method (half-reaction method)

Step 1: Assign oxidation numbers and identify changes

$Mn$ in $MnO X_{2}$ : $+ 4$ → $+ 2$ in $MnCl X_{2}$ (reduction)
$Cl$ in $HCl$ : $- 1$ → $0$ in $Cl X_{2}$ (oxidation)

Step 2: Write half-reactions

Oxidation half-reaction (Cl⁻ → Cl₂): $2 Cl X^{-} Cl X_{2} + 2 e X^{-}$
Reduction half-reaction (Mn⁴⁺ → Mn²⁺): $MnO X_{2} + 4 H X^{+} + 2 e X^{-} Mn X^{2 +} + 2 H X_{2} O$

Step 3: Balance electrons and combine

Multiply oxidation half-reaction by 1 and reduction half-reaction by 1 to balance electrons.
Combine: $MnO X_{2} + 4 H X^{+} + 2 Cl X^{-} Mn X^{2 +} + Cl X_{2} + 2 H X_{2} O$

Step 4: Add spectator ions (H⁺ and Cl⁻ from HCl)

$HCl$ provides $H X^{+}$ and $Cl X^{-}$ .
Final balanced equation: $MnO X_{2} + 4 HCl MnCl X_{2} + Cl X_{2} + 2 H X_{2} O$

Verification:

Mn: $+ 4$ → $+ 2$ (balanced)
Cl: $- 1$ → $0$ (balanced)
H and O: Balanced with $2 H X_{2} O$ .

Final balanced equation: $MnO X_{2} + 4 HCl MnCl X_{2} + Cl X_{2} + 2 H X_{2} O$

Define reducing agent giving an example. Balance the following redox reaction by oxidation number or ion electron method: [1+4] MnO 2 + HCl MnCl 2 + Cl 2 + H 2O

Model Answer

1. Definition of Reducing Agent with Example

2. Balancing the Redox Reaction: $MnO X_{2} + HCl MnCl X_{2} + Cl X_{2} + H X_{2} O$

Discussion

More Chemistry questions

Define reducing agent giving an example. Balance the following redox reaction by oxidation number or ion electron method: [1+4] MnO 2 + HCl MnCl 2 + Cl 2 + H 2O

Model Answer

1. Definition of Reducing Agent with Example

2. Balancing the Redox Reaction: MnOX2​+HCl​MnClX2​+ClX2​+HX2​O

Discussion

More Chemistry questions

2. Balancing the Redox Reaction: $MnO X_{2} + HCl MnCl X_{2} + Cl X_{2} + H X_{2} O$