Based on the oxidation numbers which compound is the oxidizing agent in the following reaction?
8Al + 3KClO4 �¨ 4Al2O3 + 3KCl
Calculate the oxidation numbers for each one
Elements all by themselves have an oxidation state of 0
Oxidation states for metals is usually the same as when they are an ion
For elements such as oxygen and hydrogen, their oxidation numbers correspond to the number of electrons they wish to lose or gain to have perfect octets
If you can figure out which atoms had their oxidation numbers changed you can find the oxidizing agent
Also remember Leoger
Loss of electrons is oxidation and gain of electrons is reduction
Your oxidizing agent is the element that gained electrons
Add this site to what Ally has written.
http://www.chemteam.info/Redox/Redox.html
To determine which compound is the oxidizing agent in the given reaction, we need to look at the changes in oxidation numbers of the elements involved. The element that undergoes a reduction (decrease in oxidation number) is being oxidized, while the element that undergoes an oxidation (increase in oxidation number) is being reduced.
Let's analyze the changes in oxidation numbers for the relevant elements in this reaction:
- In aluminum (Al), the oxidation number increases from 0 to +3 on each aluminum atom.
- In potassium chlorate (KClO4), the oxidation number of potassium (K) remains +1, and the oxidation number of chlorine (Cl) remains -1. However, the oxidation number of oxygen (O) changes from -2 to -2(/3) on each oxygen atom.
Since the oxidation number of aluminum increases from 0 to +3, it is being oxidized and, therefore, is the reducing agent. Conversely, a compound or element that causes another species to oxidize is the oxidizing agent.
In this reaction, since the oxidation number of oxygen decreases from -2 to -2(/3), the compound responsible for this change is the oxidizing agent. Therefore, potassium chlorate (KClO4) is the oxidizing agent in the given reaction.
To determine the oxidizing agent, we compared the changes in oxidation numbers for the elements in the reaction.