Question

Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction of \(\rm~Cl_2\) with hot and concentrated \(\rm~NaOH\). Is this reaction a disproportionation reaction? Justify.

Answer 1

Disproportionation reaction

Reaction in which the same element is simultaneously oxidized and reduced, known as disproportionation reaction.

Reaction of \(\rm~Cl_2\) with hot and concentrated \(\rm~NaOH\)

Balanced reaction of \(\rm~Cl_2\) with hot and concentrated \(\rm~NaOH\) is shown below:



From the above reaction, chlorine from zero oxidation state is changed to \(-1~\text{and}~+5\) oxidation states i.e., chlorine is oxidized and reduced simultaneously.

Hence it is a disproportionation reaction.