Question

2NO3- + Cu+ 4 H+Cu2+ + 2NO2+ 2 H2O

For the above redox reaction, assign oxidation numbers and use them to identify the element oxidized and the element reduced.

name of the element oxidized:

name of the element reduced:

Answer 1

Oxidation number of each element in NO3-1 is

O=-2

N=+5

Oxidation number of each element in Cu+1 is

Cu=+1

Oxidation number of each element in H+1 is

H=+1

Oxidation number of each element in Cu+2 is

Cu=+2

Oxidation number of each element in NO2 is

O=-2

N=+4

Oxidation number of each element in H2O is

H=+1

O=-2

Oxidation number of each element in reactant is

O=-2

N=+5

Cu=+1

H=+1

Oxidation number of each element in product is

Cu=+2

O=-2

N=+4

H=+1

N in NO3- has oxidation state of +5

N in NO2 has oxidation state of +4

So, N in NO3- is reduced to NO2

Cu in Cu+ has oxidation state of +1

Cu in Cu+2 has oxidation state of +2

So, Cu in Cu+ is oxidised to Cu+2

element oxidised: Cu

element reduced: N