1. Ascorbic acid (CHO) is a common antioxidant that protects our bodies against radicals. In the redox equation below that occurs in our stomach, which of the following pairs is the reducing and oxidizing agents, respectively?CH₂O + 2H + 2NO₂ = CH¸O + 2H2O + 2NO Ascorbic acid + hydrogen ions + nitrite ion = dehydroascorbic acid + water + nitric oxide
Answer (1)
1. Ascorbic acid (CHO) is a common antioxidant that protects our bodies against radicals. In the redox equation below that occurs in our stomach, which of the following pairs is the reducing and oxidizing agents, respectively?ANWERS: CH₂O + 2H + 2NO₂ = CH¸O + 2H2O + 2NO Ascorbic acid + hydrogen ions + nitrite ion = dehydroascorbic acid + water + nitric oxide (this particularly need a solution tho, and been trying to understand this but I just can't . PLEASE SOLVE THE ATTACHED PICTURE ALSO, I WILL APPRECIATE IT MUCH! ) You're right, this is a bit tricky! Let's break down the redox reaction and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents. Understanding Redox Reactions - Oxidation: Loss of electrons. The substance that gets oxidized is the reducing agent.- Reduction: Gain of electrons. The substance that gets reduced is the oxidizing agent. Analyzing the Equation - Ascorbic Acid (CH₂O) to Dehydroascorbic Acid (CH₂O): Notice that ascorbic acid loses two hydrogen atoms (2H) to become dehydroascorbic acid. This means it loses electrons and is oxidized. Therefore, ascorbic acid is the reducing agent.- Nitrite Ion (NO₂) to Nitric Oxide (NO): The nitrite ion gains an electron to become nitric oxide. This means it gains electrons and is reduced. Therefore, the nitrite ion is the oxidizing agent. Summary - Reducing Agent: Ascorbic acid (CH₂O)- Oxidizing Agent: Nitrite ion (NO₂) Key Point: Remember that the reducing agent is oxidized, and the oxidizing agent is reduced. It's a bit of a word trick! 2. Which element is reduced and oxidised in the reaction represented below, and how does its oxidation number change? P⁴ + 10HOCI + 6H²O = 4H³ PO⁴ + 10HCI Tetraphosphorous + hypochlorous acid + water = phosphoric acid + hydrochloric acid?ANWERS: Here's the breakdown of the redox reaction and the changes in oxidation numbers: Identifying the Elements - Phosphorus (P): The phosphorus atom is the key element undergoing both oxidation and reduction in this reaction.- Chlorine (Cl): Chlorine is also involved in the redox process, but we'll focus on phosphorus for this explanation. Oxidation and Reduction - Phosphorus Oxidation: In tetraphosphorus (P⁴), each phosphorus atom has an oxidation number of 0 (since it's in its elemental form). In phosphoric acid (H₃PO₄), phosphorus has an oxidation number of +5. This means phosphorus loses electrons and is oxidized.- Phosphorus Reduction: In hypochlorous acid (HOCl), chlorine has an oxidation number of +1. In hydrochloric acid (HCl), chlorine has an oxidation number of -1. This means chlorine gains electrons and is reduced. Oxidation Number Changes - Phosphorus: The oxidation number of phosphorus changes from 0 to +5. This indicates a loss of electrons, confirming its oxidation. Summary - Element Reduced: Chlorine (Cl)- Element Oxidized: Phosphorus (P)- Oxidation Number Change of Phosphorus: From 0 to +5 Key Point: Notice that in this reaction, the same element (phosphorus) is both oxidized and reduced. This is a common type of redox reaction called a disproportionation reaction.
