From each of the following pairs of substances, use data in Appendix E to choose the one that is the stronger reducing agent: (a) Fe(s) or Mg(s)

Video transcript

welcome back everyone in this example. We need to use the below data to identify which is the stronger reducing agent in each pair. Either barium solid or cobalt solid. So we want to recall that for a stronger reducing agent. We're going to look at the reduction potential value and if the reduction potential value is lower in value or more negative, this is going to correspond to a substance that is easily oxidized which will thus correspond to being a stronger reducing agent. So comparing these two reduction potential values for the first equation, we have the barium two plus carry on gaining two electrons to form solid barium and then in our second equation we have the cobalt Catalan gaining two electrons to form solid cobalt where we have a more negative reduction potential corresponding to our oxidation of our barium caddy on which has a reduction potential of negative 2.90 volts. And so because we see that this is the more negative reduction potential value, we would therefore say that our solid barium, it's going to be the stronger reducing agent. And so our final answer is going to be our atom solid barium as the stronger reducing agent compared to solid cobalt. I hope everything I reviewed was clear. If you have any questions, please leave them down below and I will see everyone in the next practice video