1. Tardigrade
  2. Question
  3. Chemistry
  4. Which of the following cannot act as reducing agent?

Question Error Report

Thank you for reporting, we will resolve it shortly

Back to Question

Q. Which of the following cannot act as reducing agent?

AMUAMU 2003

Solution:

A reducing agent may be defined as a substance, the oxidation number of whose atom increases. Reduction is accompanied by an increase in oxidation number of the reducing agent. Carbon belongs to IV A group. So, its maximum oxidation number is $+4$. In $ CO_{2} $ the oxidation number of carbon is $+4$ which cannot be further, increased. Hence, $ CO_{2} $ cannot act as reducing agent. While the maximum oxidation number of nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine are $+5, + 6$ and $+ 7$ respectively. In $ NO_{2},CO_{2} $ and $ ClO_{2} $ the O.N. of nitrogen, sulphur and chlorine is $+4$. Which can be further, increased. So, they can act as a reducing agent.