Question

What products are expected from the disproportionation reaction of hypochlorous acid?

• A. $HCl{O}_3$ and $C{l}_{2}O$
• B. $HCl{O}_2$ and $HCl{O}_4$
• C. $HCl$ and $C{l}_{2}O$
• D. $HCl$ and $HCl{O}_3$

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

In disproportionation reactions, the same element is oxidised as well as reduced. In $\text{HOCl,}$ the oxidation state of $\text{Cl}$ is $+1.$ In $\text{HCl}{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}\text{,C}{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}\text{O,}\text{HCl}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\text{,}\text{HCl}{\text{O}}_{\text{4}}$ and $\text{HCl,}$ the oxidation states of Cl are $+5,+1,+3,+7$ and $-1$ respectively. Thus, the disproportionation products are $\text{HCl}$ and $\text{HCl}{\text{O}}_3.$