Question

Identify the oxidising agent (oxidant) in the following reactions
(a)$P{b}_3{O}_4+8HCl$$\to$ $3PbC{l}_2+C{l}_2+4H_{2}O$
(b) $Mg+2H_{2}O$ $\to$ $Mg(OH{)}_2+H_2$
(c) $CuS{O}_4+Zn$ $\to$ $Cu+ZnS{O}_4$
(d) $V_2{O}_5+5Ca$ $\to$ $2V+5CaO$

Answer 1

(a) Pb${}_3{O}_4$ +8HCl $\to$ 3PbCl${}_2$ +Cl${}_2$ +4H${}_{2}O$

Oxidising agent - Pb${}_3{O}_4$

Pb${}_3{O}_4$ gets reduced to PbCl${}_2$ and oxidises HCl to Cl${}_2$

(b) Mg +2H${}_2$O $\to$ Mg(OH)${}_2$ +H${}_2$

H${}_2$O is an oxidising agent as it oxidises Mg to Mg(OH)${}_2$ (Mg${}^{2+}$)

(c)CuSO${}_4$ +Zn $\to$ Cu + ZnSO${}_4$

CuSO${}_4$ is an oxidising agent as it oxidises Zn to ZnSO${}_4$

(d) V${}_2{O}_5$ +5Ca $\to$ 2V +5CaO

V${}_2{O}_5$ is a oxidising agent as it oxidises Ca to CaO.