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Ch.20 - Electrochemistry

Chapter 20, Problem 63

Which metal cation is the best oxidizing agent? a. Pb2+ b. Cr3+ c. Fe2+ d. Sn2+

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hey everyone in this example, we need to consider the following metal cat ions and identify which of the following is the best oxidizing agent. So we should recall that the strongest oxidizing agent is going to have the least negative reduction potential. So we're going to refer to our standard table of reduction potentials and we would find that in our textbooks or online. So beginning with the iron three plus carry on, we would see that we have a reduction potential value equal to positive 0.77V. And so we're going to actually write this down below. So we would have four iron three plus a reduction potential value according to our textbook equal to positive 0.77 volts. So moving on to our next pattern, we have nickel two plus, which has a reduction potential value equal to negative 0.23 volts. So we would already rule out nickel because it has a negative reduction potential and we want the least negative reduction potential for our best oxidizing agent. Moving on, we have cobalt two plus as a caravan which has a reduction potential value equal to negative 0.53 volts. Which we can already also rule out because it has a negative reduction potential value. And then lastly we have the reduction potential value for calcium two plus, which according to our textbooks has a value equal to negative two, sorry, equal to negative 2.76 volts. So we would also rule out calcium two plus. And this means that we can say therefore, since 0.77 volts was the most positive reduction potential value for the iron three plus catalon. We would say that the iron three plus Catalan is the best oxidizing agent, and this would be our final answer to complete this example. So I hope that 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.