Question

How many electrons are transferred in the following, unbalanced, redox reaction:
$C{{l}_{2}}+KI\to KCl+{{I}_{2}}$

Answer 1

Hint: Redox reaction can be defined as that chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between the reactants participating in the chemical reaction. The transfer of electrons involves the changes in the oxidation state of the reacting species.

Complete step by step answer:
To calculate that how many electrons are transferred in this unbalanced reaction we first have to convert this equation in balanced equation and this equation can be balanced by considering following steps:
1. First write the chemical formulae of the reaction if it is not given but in this case chemical formulae are given so first write the unbalanced reaction
$C{{l}_{2}}+KI\to KCl+{{I}_{2}}$
2. Now compare the total number of each element on the both sides like in the given reaction there is one $K$ atom on both sides whereas $Cl$ and $I$ atoms are different on both sides.
3. Now stoichiometric coefficients are added to molecules containing an element which have different number of atoms on reactant side and product side and coefficients are added in such a manner that they balance the equation after that check the equation that number of atoms are same on both sides or not.
Hence the given equations balanced equation can be written as follows:
$C{{l}_{2}}+2KI\to 2KCl+{{I}_{2}}$
We can see that during the balancing of this reaction two electrons are transferred from reactant and product.

Note: Balancing of chemical equation involves the addition of stoichiometric coefficients to the reactants and products in such a way that there are same number of atoms of each element on both sides i.e. the number of atoms in reactants are equal to the number of atoms in products.