Question

Question 23

Identify the reducing agent in the following reactions:

(a) $4{\text{NH}}_3+5{\text{O}}_2\to 4\text{NO}+6{\text{H}}_2\text{O}$
(b) ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}+{\text{F}}_2\to \text{HF}+\text{HOF}$
(c) ${\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_3+3\text{CO}\to 2\text{Fe}+3{\text{CO}}_2$
(d) $2{\text{H}}_2+{\text{O}}_2\to 2{\text{H}}_2\text{O}$

Answer 1

Reducing agents are those that add hydrogen or remove oxygen from other substances and get oxidised themselves.

(a) Ammonia $\left({\text{NH}}_3\right)$, as it reduces ${\text{H}}_2$ to ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$
(b) Water $\left({\text{H}}_2\text{O}\right)$, as it reduces ${\text{F}}_2$ to $\text{HF}$
(c) Carbon monoxide $\left(\text{CO}\right)$, as it reduces ${\text{Fe}}_2{\text{O}}_3$ to $\text{Fe}$
(d) Hydrogen (${\text{H}}_2$), as it reduces ${\text{O}}_2$ to ${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$