Question

Does hydrogen act as a reducing agent or not?

Answer 1

Dear student,
Some elements and compounds can be both reducing or oxidizing agents. Hydrogen gas is a reducing agent when it reacts with non-metals and an oxidizing agent when it reacts with metals.
1 )Hydrogen acts as reducing agent when react with non-metals
for eg. - H₂ + F₂ $\to$ 2HF

2)Hydrogen act as reducing agent in the reaction of some metal oxide with hydrogen (metal less electropositive than zinc such as Cu, Fe, Pb)
CuO + H_{2 $\stackrel{heat}{\to }$} Cu + H_​2O
ZnO + ​H_{2 $\stackrel{heat}{\to }$} Zn + H_​2O
PbO + ​H_{2 $\stackrel{heat}{\to }$} Pb + H_​2O
Fe₃O₄ + ​4H_{2 $\stackrel{heat}{\to }$} 3Fe + 4H_​2O
Regards