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Ch.17 - Applications of Aqueous Equilibria

Chapter 17, Problem 35

Consider the following table of standard reduction potentials:

(b) Which substances can be oxidized by B2+? Which can be reduced by D?

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Welcome back. Everyone refer to the half reactions and their standard reduction potential values below we have a two part question. Let's begin with part one, identify the species that can be oxidized by our tungsten plus one. Carry on. Let's begin by recalling that the smaller our reduction potential value corresponds to an atom that is more prone to oxidation. And we can also note that the reduced form will correspond to a weaker oxidizing agent. Whereas the oxidized form will correspond to a stronger reducing agent. On the other hand, let's recall that the greater our reduction potential value will correspond to an atom more prone to reduction where in its reduced form, it's going to be a stronger oxidizing agent. And in its oxidized form, it's going to be a stronger reducing agent or correction, a weaker reducing agent in its oxidized form. So going back to part one, notice that in our given table, we see our tungsten Kati on gaining an electron recall that the species that gains an electron is going to be our oxidizing agent. So in this case, our tungsten plus one Catalan is our oxidizing agent. And based on it's given standard cell potential of 10.54 volts, which has the highest magnitude out of our given standard cell potentials is going to be more prone to reduction, which is what we see occur in this reaction because it is a reduction since electrons are on the reactant side. So we can say that it undergoes reduction. And for part 1 1, can confirm that our tungsten catalon in reduced form, oxidizes all species below which would be our X minus an eye on our U tree um solid and our Z solid. So these are all oxidized by our tungsten plus one Catalan. And this would be our first answer for part one. Now, moving on to part two of our prompt, identify the species that can be reduced by a tree. Um or y recall that the species that loses electrons is going to be our reducing agent. So looking at this equation here, we can see that yeah tree um is our reducing agent. And because it's our reducing agent, it should undergo oxidation. and so for part two, we can say that our country um solid can reduce all species above it. So that would include our tungsten plus one catty on and our ex to die atomic molecule which can be reduced can be reduced by our Yeah tree um solid. And this statement would be our second final answer to complete this example. Our two final answers will correspond to choice, seeing the multiple choice to complete this example. And this is going to correspond to choice A in the sorry choice c in the multiple choice as our final answer. So I hope this made sense and let us know if you have any questions.