Question

In the reaction H2+Cl2~2HCl.so A) hydrogen is oxidized B) chlorine is reduced C) chlorine is an oxidizing agent D)all of the above? Thanks

Answer 1

`D....`

Explanation:

Oxidation represents an INCREASE in formal oxidation number, and we usually represent this by means of half-equation, introducing electrons as conceptual particles of convenience....

Dihydrogen is FORMALLY oxidized....i.e. its oxidation number increases...

`1/2stackrel(0)H_2(g)rarrstackrel(+I)H^(+)+e^-`

And chlorine is reduced....

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

And we adds the half equations together such that the electrons are eliminated....

`1/2H_2(g)+1/2Cl_2(g)rarrHCl(g)`

And clearly, this is a redox reaction involving FORMAL electron transfer...