Question

Which substance/ion is oxidized and which substance/ion is reduced in the following reaction?
$Mn{O_2} + 4HCl \to MnC{l_2} + 2{H_2}O + C{l_2}$

Answer 1

Hint: Oxidation and reduction are the terms associated with oxygen. Oxidation means gaining electrons and reduction means losing electrons. An oxidizing agent gains electrons and is reduced in a chemical reaction whereas a reducing agent loses electrons and is oxidized in a chemical reaction.

Complete step by step answer:
The chemical reactions which often work together are oxidation and reduction. During this process, there is an exchange of electrons. Moreover, when oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously, then the reaction is known as a redox reaction.
The substance that is reduced in a reaction is known as the oxidizing agent because it gains electrons whereas the substance that is oxidized in a reaction is the reducing agent because it loses electrons.
Now, let’s consider the given reaction,
$Mn{O_2} + 4HCl \to MnC{l_2} + 2{H_2}O + C{l_2}$
In this reaction, $HCl$is oxidized because the oxidation number of $Cl$ increases from $ - 1$to 0. Thus, $Cl$ itself is oxidized and acts as a reducing agent.
Further, $Mn{O_2}$is reduced because the oxidation number of $Mn$ decreases from $ + 4$to$ + 2$. Thus, $Mn$itself is reduced and acts as an oxidizing agent.

Note: Some examples of oxidizing agents are potassium nitrate, halogens , nitric acid etc. and some reducing agents are formic acid, sulfite compounds etc. Moreover, oxidation and reduction reactions are significant because they are the main natural and artificial energy sources on this planet. The oxidation of molecules usually releases large amounts of energy by removing hydrogen and replacing it with oxygen.