Question

Consider the reactions:
a. `H_(3)PO_(2)(aq)+4AgNO_(3)(aq)+2H_(2)O(l) rarr H_(3)PO_(4)(aq)+4Ag(s)+4HNO_(3)(aq)`
b. `H_(3)PO_(2)(aq)+2CuSO_(4)(aq)+2H_(2)O(l) rarr H_(3)PO_(4)(aq)+2Cu(s)+H_(2)SO_(4)(aq)`
c. `C_(6)H_(5)CHO(l)+2[Ag(NH_(3))_(2)]^(o+)(aq)+3overset(Θ)(OH)(aq) rarr C_(6)H_(5)COO^(Θ)(aq)+2Ag(s)+4NH_(3)(aq)+2H_(2)O(l)`
d. `C_(6)H_(5)CHO(l)+2Cu^(2+)(aq)+5overset(Θ)(O)H(aq) rarr` No change observed
What inference do you draw about the behaviour of `Ag^(o+)` and `Cu^(2+)` from these reaction?

Answer 1

`Ag^(+)` and `Cu^(2+)` act as oxidising agents in reactions (a) and (b) respectively .
In reaction (c) , `Ag^(+)` oxidised `C_(6)H_(5)CHO` to `C_(6)H_(5)COO^(-)` , but in reaction (d) , `Cu^(2+)` cannot oxidise `C_(6)H_(5)CHO` .
Hence , we can say that `Ag^(+)` is a stronger oxidising agent than `Cu^(2+)`