Wht property of hydrogen is observed in the following experiments.
When black cupric oxide is heated in a stream of hydrogen, reddish
colour is obtained.

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Solution

Dear student,

Copper metal is reddish-brown in color and when burnt it air, it turns black due to the formation of copper oxide. When hydrogen gas is passed over this CuO, reverse reaction takes place and copper is obtained back.

CuO + H₂ → Cu + H₂O

Thus, the brown color of the metal is restored due to the reduction of CuO. Thus, hydrogen is acting as a reducing agent here. Hydrogen itself gets oxidized from 0 oxidation state in H₂ to +1 oxidation state in water. It is getting oxidized and reducing copper oxide.

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