Question

Why HCl not used to make the mdeium acidic in oxidation reactions of `KMnO_(4)` in acidic medium ?
A. Both HCl and `KMnO_(4)` act as oxidising agents
B. `KMnO_(4)` oxidises HCl into `Cl_(2)` which is also an oxidising agent
C. `KMnO_(4)` is a weaker oxidising agents than HCl
D. `KMnO_(4)` acts as a reducing agent in the presence of HCl

Answer 1

Correct Answer - B
HCl is not used to make th medium acidic in oxidation reactions of `KMnO_(4)` in acidic medium. The reason is that if HCl is used, the oxygen produced from `KMnO_(4)` + HCl partly utilised in oxidising HCl to Cl, which itself acts as an oxidising agent and partly oxidises the reducing agent.