Question

How does chlorine gas react to give chloride and hypochlorite ions in BASIC solution?

Answer 1

`"This is a disproportionation reaction........."`

Explanation:

`Cl_2` is reduced to chloride, `Cl^-`:

`1/2stackrel(0)Cl_2 + e^(-) rarr stackrel(-I)Cl^(-)` `(i)`

And oxidized to hypochlorite..........

`1/2stackrel(0)Cl_2 +2HO^(-) rarr stackrel(+I)ClO^(-)+H_2O +e^(-)` `(ii)`

And OVERALL........`(i) + (ii):`

`Cl_2 +2HO^(-) rarr Cl^(-) + ClO^(-) +H_2O`

Is charge balanced? Is mass balanced? These must be if the equation is to be accepted as a representation of chemical reality, of physical reality in fact.