Question

Given below are two reactions of water with sodium and carbon dioxide. What is the nature of water in these reactions?
(i) $2Na + 2H_2O \to 2NaOH + H_2$
(ii) $6CO_2 + 12H_2O \to C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6H_2O + 6O_2$

• A. In (ii) water acts as an oxidising agent and in (i) it acts as a reducing agent
• B. In (i) water acts as an oxidising agent while in (ii) it acts as a reducing agent
• C. In both, (i) and (ii) hydrogen acts as a reducing agent
• D. In both, (i) and (ii) hydrogen acts as an oxidising agent

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

With sodium metal water acts as an oxidising agent and gets reduced to $H_2$, with $CO_2$ water acts as a reducing agent and is oxidised to oxygen.