While sulphur dioxide and hydrogen peroxide can act as oxidising as well as reducing agents in their reactions, ozone and nitric acid act only as oxidants. Why? answer should be short
While sulphur dioxide and hydrogen peroxide can act as oxidising as well as reducing agents in their reactions, ozone and nitric acid act only as oxidants. Why? answer should be short
The oxidation number of S in SO2 is +4. Therefore sulphur can have a minimum oxidation number of -2 and a maximum oxidation number of +6 with an increase or decrease in its oxidation number. Hence SO2 can act as both oxidizing and reducing agent.
Similarly in H2O2 oxidation number of oxygen is –1. Oxygen can have a minimum oxidation number of –2 and a maximum oxidation number of 0 with similar increase and decrease in its oxidation number. Hence H2O2 can act as oxidizing and reducing agent.
But in O3 the oxidation number of oxygen is 0. It can only decrease its oxidation number to –1 or –2 and cannot increase to +2. Therefore O3 acts only as oxidizing agent.
Similarly in HNO3 the oxidation number of nitrogen is +5. The maximum oxidation number that nitrogen can have is +5. Therefore it can only decrease its oxidation number and cannot increase. Hence HNO3 acts only as an oxidizing agent.
The oxidation number of S in SO2 is +4. Therefore sulphur can have a minimum oxidation number of -2 and a maximum oxidation number of +6 with an increase or decrease in its oxidation number. Hence SO2 can act as both oxidizing and reducing agent.
Similarly in H2O2 oxidation number of oxygen is –1. Oxygen can have a minimum oxidation number of –2 and a maximum oxidation number of 0 with similar increase and decrease in its oxidation number. Hence H2O2 can act as oxidizing and reducing agent.
But in O3 the oxidation number of oxygen is 0. It can only decrease its oxidation number to –1 or –2 and cannot increase to +2. Therefore O3 acts only as oxidizing agent.
Similarly in HNO3 the oxidation number of nitrogen is +5. The maximum oxidation number that nitrogen can have is +5. Therefore it can only decrease its oxidation number and cannot increase. Hence HNO3 acts only as an oxidizing agent.
