What is occurring in the following reaction?
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl
A. H2 is being reduced.
B. Cl2 is being oxidized.
C. H2 is gaining two electrons.
D. Cl2 is acting as an oxidizing agent.
is the answer C? please explain
you do not need to be rude to her for misspelling something. that is very inappropriate, you need to think before you speak.
Agree with "e"
RUDE
the whole site is has spelling of chemistry wrong Mr DrBob222
Well, let's take a closer look at the reaction:
H2 + Cl2 → 2HCl
In this reaction, hydrogen gas (H2) reacts with chlorine gas (Cl2) to form two molecules of hydrogen chloride (2HCl). Now, as we analyze the reaction, we can determine the correct answer.
Option A states that H2 is being reduced. However, in this reaction, hydrogen is actually losing electrons, not gaining them, so option A is incorrect.
Option B suggests that Cl2 is being oxidized. Since chlorine is gaining electrons in this reaction, option B is correct. When chlorine gas (Cl2) reacts with hydrogen gas (H2), one chlorine atom from Cl2 takes one electron from the hydrogen molecule (H2) to form two molecules of hydrogen chloride (HCl). This means that the chlorine gas (Cl2) is indeed being oxidized.
Option C is not correct because, as mentioned earlier, hydrogen is losing electrons, not gaining them.
Option D states that Cl2 is acting as an oxidizing agent. Given that we've determined that chlorine gas (Cl2) is indeed being oxidized in this reaction, option D is correct.
So, to summarize, the correct answer is D. Cl2 is acting as an oxidizing agent because it is being oxidized during the reaction.
The correct answer is actually B, "Cl2 is being oxidized."
To understand why, let's break down the reaction and the concept of oxidation and reduction.
In the given reaction, H2 (hydrogen gas) is reacting with Cl2 (chlorine gas) to form 2HCl (hydrogen chloride).
Oxidation is the process of losing electrons, while reduction is the process of gaining electrons. Oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously and are referred to as redox reactions.
In this reaction, the chlorine atoms in Cl2 are each gaining one electron from one hydrogen atom to form 2HCl. This means that the chlorine atoms are being reduced (gaining electrons) from a state of 0 charge to -1 charge in HCl. Hence, choice A, "H2 is being reduced," is incorrect.
On the other hand, hydrogen atoms in H2 are each losing an electron to form H+ ions in HCl. This means that the hydrogen atoms are being oxidized (losing electrons) from a state of 0 charge to +1 charge in H+. Therefore, choice B, "Cl2 is being oxidized," is the correct answer.
Choice C, "H2 is gaining two electrons," does not accurately describe the reaction because hydrogen is gaining only one electron from each chlorine atom.
Finally, choice D, "Cl2 is acting as an oxidizing agent," is also incorrect because it implies that Cl2 is causing the oxidation of another species, which is not the case in this particular reaction.
Therefore, the correct answer is B, "Cl2 is being oxidized."
Louren, are you paying attention to the answers? Please use the correct spelling of chemistry.
A. H2 has an oxidation state of zero on the left and +1 on the right so it is losing electrons. That makes it oxidized so A can't be right.
B. If H2 is being oxidized then Cl2 must be reduced and B can't be right.
C. From A H2 is losing electrons so C can't be right.
D. If Cl2 is an oxidizing agent, it must be reduced. It is zero on the left and -1 on the right so it is gaining electrons. A gain of electrons is reduction. So D is correct.