Question

Ionic hydrides are usually
A. Good electrical conductors when solid
B. Easily reduced
C. Good reducing agents
D. Liquid at room temperature

Answer 1

Hint: In simple terms, hydride is referred to as the anion of hydrogen. The hydrogen atoms in this chemical compound have nucleophilic, basic, or reducing characteristics. Typically, the hydrogen in a hydride has an oxidation number of -1. When hydrogen combines with extremely electropositive s-block elements (Alkali Metals and Alkaline Earth Metals), ionic hydrides are formed.

Complete Step by Step Answer:
Ionic hydrides are one of the three types of hydrides. Ionic hydrides are also known as pseudohalides and saline hydrides. As the alkali metals and S block elements interact with the hydrogen atoms to create electrovalent compounds, the ionic hydrides are produced. These are regarded as the most energetic elements in the periodic table. When they are in a solid or liquid condition, they often behave differently.

The ionic hydrides are crystalline, non-conducting, and non-volatile in solid form. However, they conduct electricity when they are liquid. At the anode, electrolysis of ionic hydrides releases hydrogen gas. Saline or ionic hydrides are mostly used as bases or reducing reagents in organic synthesis since they do not dissolve in common solvents. NaH, KH, LiH are some of the examples of ionic hydrides and you can see that hydrogen is present in -1 oxidation form in all of them.
Hence, the correct option is C. Good reducing agents

Note: The anion for the hydrogen atom is called hydride. Potentially, the periodic table's various elements and hydrogen may react. Chemical forms of hydrogen and hydride possess nucleophilic, basic, and reducing characteristics. With the exception of a few noble gases, all the elements in the periodic table are used to create the hydride compounds. There are three different kinds of hydrides: covalent, metallic, and ionic.