Conceptual Challenge Problems These rigorous, thought-provoking problems integrate conc...

Conceptual Challenge Problems

These rigorous, thought-provoking problems integrate conceptual learning with problem solving and are suitable for group work.

CP5.B (Section 5.4) Consider these redox reactions:

(a) Identify the species that have been oxidized or reduced in each of the reactions.

(b) After you have correctly identified the species that have been oxidized or reduced in each equation, you might like to try using oxidation numbers to balance each equation. This will be a challenge because, as you have discovered, more than one kind of atom is oxidized or reduced, although in all cases the product of the oxidation and reduction is unambiguous. Record the initial and final oxidation states of each kind of atom that is oxidized or reduced in each equation. Then decide on the coefficients that will equalize the oxidation number changes and satisfy any other atom balancing needed. Finally, balance the equation by adding the correct coefficients to it.