Question

Whenever a reaction between an oxidising agent and a reducing agent is carried out, a compound of lower oxidation state is formed if the reducing agent is in excess and a compound of higher oxidation state is formed if the oxidising agent is in excess. Justify this statement giving three illustrations.

Answer 1

(a) Reaction between Fe and `CI_(2)`
`Fe(Excess)+CI_(2)rarroverset(+2)FeCI_(2)`
`"(R.A) (O.A)(Lower O.S of Fe)"`
`Fe+CI_(2)(Excess)+O_(2)rarroverset(+3)FeCI_(3)`
"(R.A) (O.A) (Higher O.S of Fe)"
`(b) 2Fe(Excess)+O_(2)rarroverset(+2)2FeO`
`"(R.A) (O.A)(Lower O.S of Fe)"`
`2 Fe + 3O_(2)(Excess)rarroverset(+3)Fe_(2)O_(3)`
`"(R.A) (O.A)(Higher O.S of Fe)"`
(c) Xe `(Excess)+F_(2)rarroverset(+2)xeF_(2)`
`"(R.A)(O.A)(Lower O.S of Fe)"`
Xe + `2F_(2)(Excess)rarroverset(+4)XeF_(4)`
`"(R.A)(O.A)(Higher O.S of Xe)" `