Question

In $\mathrm{ZnO}+\mathrm{C}\to \mathrm{Zn}+\mathrm{CO}$, which substance is oxidized and reduced?

Answer 1

Oxidation:

• The process in which one substance loses electrons so as to increase its oxidation state is known as the oxidation process.
• The substance which helps in oxidation is called as an oxidizing agent.

Reduction:

• The process in which one substance gains electrons so as to decrease its oxidation state is known as the reduction process.
• The substance which helps in reduction is called an oxidizing agent.

The substance which is oxidized and reduced in the given reaction:

• The reaction is given by :

$\underset{(\mathrm{Zinc}\mathrm{oxide})}{\stackrel{+2}{\mathrm{Zn}}\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\left(\mathrm{Carbon}\right)}{\stackrel{0}{\mathrm{C}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}\to \underset{\left(\mathrm{Zinc}\right)}{\overset{0}{\mathrm{Zn}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}}+\underset{(\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{monoxide})}{\overset{+2}{\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}}$.

• Here zinc is reduced by gaining electrons which changes its oxidation state from $+2\mathrm{to}0.$
• Whereas, Carbon is getting oxidized by losing electrons which change its oxidation state from$0\mathrm{to}+2$

Hence,In $\mathrm{ZnO}+\mathrm{C}\to \mathrm{Zn}+\mathrm{CO}$, Carbon is oxidized (due to loss of electrons) and Zinc is reduced (due to gain in electrons).