Saved Bookmarks
| 1. |
Can PCl_5 act as an oxidising as well as a reducing agent ? Justify. |
|
Answer» <P> Solution :Phosphorus has maximum oxidation state of +5 in `PCl_5`. It cannot INCREASE its oxidation state further and therefore, `PCI_5`, cannot ACT as a reducing agent. However, it can decrease its oxidation number from +5 to +3 or some lower value, therefore, `PCl_5` acts as an oxidising agent. For example, it oxidises Ag to AGCL, Sn to `SnCl_4` and `H_2` to HCl.`overset(0)(2Ag) + overset(+5)(PCl_5) to overset(+1)(2AgCl) + overset(+3)(PCl_3)` `overset(0)(Sn) + overset(+5)(2PCl_5) to overset(+4) (SnCl_4) + overset(+3)(2PCl_3)` `overset(+5)(PCl_5) + overset(0)(H_2) to overset(+3)(PCl_3) + overset(+1)(2HCl)` In these reactions, oxidation number of P decreases from +5 in `PCl_5` to +3 in `PCl_3` and that of Ag and H increases from 0 to +1 and that of Sn from 0 to +4. Thus, `PCl_5` acts as an oxidising agent. |
|