Question

Why is $HCl$ not used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of $KMn{O}_4$ in acidic medium?

• A. Both $HCl$ and $KMn{O}_4$ act as oxidising agents
• B. $KMn{O}_4$ acts as a reducing agent in the presence of $HCl$
• C. $KMn{O}_4$ oxidises HCl into $C{l}_2$ which is also an oxidising agents
• D. $KMn{O}_4$ is a weaker oxidising agent than $HCl$

Answer 1

The correct option is C $KMn{O}_4$ oxidises HCl into $C{l}_2$ which is also an oxidising agents

Potassium permanganate, $KMn{O}_4,$ is a strong oxidizing agent.

If $HCl$ is used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of $KMn{O}_4$ in acidic medium, then $HCl$ will get oxidized to $C{l}_2$ as shown below.

$2KMn{O}_4+16HCl\to 2KCl+2MnC{l}_2+8H_{2}O+5C{l}_2$

This $C{l}_2$ produced can itself act as an oxidising agent and will partially oxidise the other reactants present in reaction mixture and thus $HCl$ fails to provide necessary acidic medium conditions.

Thus, $HCl$ is not used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of $KMn{O}_4.$

So correct answer is option $\left(B\right).$