Chapter 20, Problem 88a
Copper corrodes to cuprous oxide, Cu2O, or cupric oxide, CuO, depending on environmental conditions. (a) What is the oxidation state of copper in cuprous oxide?
Video transcript
(a) Which reaction is spontaneous in the hydrogen fuel cell: hydrogen gas plus oxygen gas makes water, or water makes hydrogen gas plus oxygen gas?
(b) Can the “fuel” of a fuel cell be a solid?
Iron corrodes to produce rust, Fe2O3, but other corrosion products that can form are Fe(O)(OH), iron oxyhydroxide, and magnetite, Fe3O4. (a) What is the oxidation number of Fe in iron oxyhydroxide, assuming oxygen's oxidation number is -2?
(c) What process occurs at the anode in the electrolysis of molten NaCl?
(d) Why is sodium metal not obtained when an aqueous solution of NaCl undergoes electrolysis?
(d) Why are active metals such as Al obtained by electrolysis using molten salts rather than aqueous solutions?