Ncert Exercises & Solutions

8.17 Consider the reactions:

(a) H3PO2(aq) + 4 AgNO3(aq) + 2 H2O(l) → H3PO4(aq) + 4Ag(s) + 4HNO3(aq)

(b) H3PO2(aq) + 2CuSO4(aq) + 2 H2O(l) → H3PO4(aq) + 2Cu(s) + H2SO4(aq)

(d) C6H5CHO(l) + 2Cu2+(aq) + 5OH–(aq) → No change observed.

What inference do you draw about the behaviour of Ag+ and Cu2+ from these reactions ?

{Ag}^{+} and {Cu}^{2 +}

act as oxidizing agents in reactions (a) and (b) respectively.

In reaction (c),

{Ag}^{+}

oxidises

C_{6} H_{5} CHO to C_{6} H_{5} {COO}^{-}

but in reaction (d),

{Cu}^{2 +}

cannot oxidise

C_{6} H_{5} CHO .

Hence, we can say that

{Ag}^{+}

is a stronger oxidizing agent than

{Cu}^{2 +}