Question

CO is a reducing agent. Justify weigh an example.

Answer 1

Both thermodynamic and kinetic factors make carbon monoxide (CO) a better reducing agent.

When CO is used to reduce a metal oxide, it gets oxidized to CO₂ Thermodynamically, CO₂ is much more stable than CO.

For example, \(CO+ Fe_2O_3\rightarrow2Fe+3CO_2\)

Answer 2

Carbon monoxide is a strong reducing agent. It reduces the oxides of the less active metals to their respective metals and itself gets oxidised to carbon dioxide in the process.

Carbon monoxide is used in the extraction of pure metals from their corresponding oxides.

CuO + CO → Cu + CO_2​

PbO + CO → Pb + CO₂