Question

Give an example of a reaction which represents reduction.

Answer 1

Reduction reaction:

1. Reduction reactions are reactions where a species gains one or more electrons.
2. In case of loss of oxygen, there also reduction reaction occurs.
3. For example, nitrogen gas reacts with hydrogen gas gets reduced, and forms Ammonia$\left({\mathrm{NH}}_3\right)$:

$\underset{\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{gas}}{{\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}\mathrm{gas}}{3{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Ammonia}}{2{\mathrm{NH}}_3\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

The reaction of Ferric oxide with Carbon monoxide:-

1. When Ferric oxide$\left({\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\right)$ is reacted with Carbon monoxide$\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)$, the products formed are Iron and Carbon dioxide.
2. Here Ferric oxide gets reduced to Iron as it loses oxygen.
3. The balanced reaction is:

$\underset{\mathrm{Ferric}\mathrm{oxide}}{{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{monoxide}}{3\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Iron}}{2\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}}{3{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

Therefore, the reaction between Ferric oxide$\left({\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\right)$ with Carbon monoxide$\left(\mathrm{CO}\right)$ results in a reduction of Ferric oxide to Iron.

$\underset{\mathrm{Ferric}\mathrm{oxide}}{{\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{monoxide}}{3\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Iron}}{2\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}}{3{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$