Question

Identify the oxidising agent, reducing agent, substance oxidised and substance reduced in the following reactions. 

MnO₂ + 4HCl → MnCl₂ + Cl₂ + 2H₂O 

Answer 1

Increase of Oxidation Number 

Decrease of oxidation Number 

As it is clear, manganese decrease its oxidation number from +4 to +2. Hence, MnO₂ gets reduced and it is an oxidising agent. Chlorine atom in HCl increases its oxidation number from -1 to 0. Thus, HCl gets oxidised and it is reducing agent.