Question

Using the data given below find out the strongest reducing agent.
\[{E^ \circ }_{C{r_2}{O_4}/C{r^{3 + }}} = 1.33V\]
\[{E^ \circ }_{Mn{O_4}^ - /M{n^{2 + }}} = 1.51V\]
\[{E^ \circ }_{C{l_2}/C{l^ - }} = 1.36V\]
\[{E^ \circ }_{C{r^{3 + }}/C{r^{}}} = - 0.74V\]
A. \[C{l^ - }\]
B. \[M{n^{2 + }}\]
C. \[Cr\] \[\]
D. \[C{r^{3 + }}\]

Answer 1

Hint: The strongest reducing agent can be found out by knowing the compound having highest oxidation potential and is oxidised most easily.

Complete step by step answer:
Let’s first know everything about reducing agents.
Reducing agent is an element or compound that loses an electron to an electron recipient or oxidizing agent in a redox chemical reaction. A reducing agent is thus oxidized when it loses electrons in the redox reaction. Reducing agents “reduce” oxidizing agents. Oxidizers “oxidize” reducers. Reduction is referred to the removal of oxygen from a compound hence the name reduction is used. The modern sense of donating electrons is a generalization of the idea acknowledging that other components can play a similar chemical role to oxygen.
Now, for solving this question we need to kind the agent which is oxidised most easily. One which oxidises easily and has highest oxidation potential is the strongest reducing agent.
\[Cr/C{r^{3 + }}\] has the highest oxidation potential i.e. 0.74 so it is oxidised most easily and therefore is the strongest reducing agent.

Hence, option C is correct.

Additional Information
Here Cr is Chromium element. It is a compound of Group 6 of periodic table having atomic number 24. It is a steel grey, lustrous, hard and brittle transition metal. It is the main additive in stainless steel to which it adds anti corrosive properties. It is a highly polished metal. Its name is derived from Greek word “chroma” which means colour because many chromium compounds are intensely coloured.

Note:
Reducing agents and Oxidizing agents are compounds that lose and gain electrons respectively and form a bond between the compounds.