Justify giving reactions that among halogens, fluorine is the best oxidant and among hydrohalic compounds, hydroiodic acid is the best reductant.
F2 can oxidize Cl– to Cl2,Br– to Br2, and I–toI2 as:
F2(aq)+2Cl−(s)⟶2F−(aq)+Cl(g)F2(aq)+2Br−(aq)⟶2F−(aq)+Br2(I)F2(aq)+2I−(aq)⟶2F−(aq)+I2(s)
On the other hand, Cl2,Br2, and I2 cannot oxidize F– to F2. The oxidizing power of halogens increases in the order of I2<Br2<Cl2<F2. Hence, fluorine is the best oxidant among halogens.
HI and HBr can reduce H2SO4 to SO2, but HCl and HF cannot. Therefore, HI and HBr are stronger reductants than HCl and HF.
2Hl+H2SO4⟶I2+SO2+2H2O2HBr+H2SO4⟶Br2+SO2+2H2O
Again, I− can reduce Cu2+ to Cu+, but Br− cannot.
4I−(aq)+2Cu2+(aq)⟶Cu2I2(s)+I2(aq)
Hence, hydroiodic acid is the best reductant among hydrohalic compounds.
Thus, the reducing power of hydrohalic acids increases in the order of HF < HCl < HBr < HI.