Question

${\rm{ZnO}} + {\rm{C}} \to {\rm{Zn}} + {\rm{CO}}$
In the above equation, ‘C’ acts as a/an:
A. oxidizing agent
B. reducing agent
C. dehydrating agent
D. hydrating agent

Answer 1

Hint: We know that the species which oxidizes the other species by undergoing reduction is called an oxidizing agent. On the other hand, the species which reduces the other species by undergoing oxidation is called the reducing agent.

Complete step by step answer:
Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, gain of an electronegative atom, addition of oxygen, removal of a hydrogen atom, and an increase in oxidation number, whereas reduction refers to the gain of electrons, a gain of an electropositive atom, addition of hydrogen, removal of oxygen and decrease in oxidation number.
A redox reaction is a reaction in which electron transfer occurs between different species causing oxidation and reduction simultaneously. The oxidation number of a specific atom, molecule or ion change by the loss or gain of electrons.
The given equation is shown below.
\[{\rm{ZnO}} + {\rm{C}} \to {\rm{Zn}} + {\rm{CO}}\]
As we can see, in this equation, carbon is getting oxidized resulting in the formation of ${\rm{CO}}$ and \[{\rm{ZnO}}\] is reduced by the removal of oxygen atom. Therefore, we can conclude that carbon is a reducing agent.
Hence, we can say that, In the above equation, ‘C’ acts as a reducing agent.

Thus, the correct option is B.

Note:
As we know, the metals are electropositive in nature, that is they have the tendency to lose electrons. This property of metals makes the metal salts a good reducing agent which gets oxidized themselves and helps in the reducing the other elements. We can say that; all the metals tend to be present in their stable oxidation state in their compounds.