Homework Help: Chemistry

Posted by LT on Monday, May 12, 2008 at 9:45pm.

Free sulfur may act as either an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent. What is the best
experimental evidence for this statement?
(A) Sulfur forms sulfur dioxide as well as calcium sulfide.
(B) Sulfur is a nonmetal.
(C) Sulfur forms both organic and inorganic compounds.
(D) With six electrons in its outer shell the sulfur atom can either form a negative ion
by gaining two electrons from other elements or share its electrons with other more
electronegative elements.
(E) Sulfur is soluble in carbon disulfide as well as in alcohol.

Chemistry - DrBob222, Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:24pm
What do you know about oxidation/reduction. We know oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons. Therefore, for an element (any element) to be both an oxidizing agent AND a reducing agent, it must be capable of both losing and gaining electrons. Which of the statement tell you S can do that. By the way, I don't like the answers because both A and D look quite similar to me. I suppose an argument could be made that A was a specific case of D.
Chemistry - LT, Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:30pm
well then the question asks later on what the theoretical explanation would be so you choose A or D could the theoretical explanation be one of those and then the experimental be the other
Chemistry - DrBob222, Monday, May 12, 2008 at 10:57pm
I guess but its a poorly worded question and not much better for answers. I would choose A for the experimental and D for the theoretical.

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