Identify the species oxidized, the specles reduced, the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the following electron-transfer reaction.
F2(g) + Cd(s) 2F(aq) + Cd2+(aq)
species oxidized
species reduced
oxidizing agent
reducing agent
As the reaction proceeds, electrons are transferred from
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
In the reaction:
F2(g)+Cd(s)→2F−(aq)+Cd2+(aq)F_2(g) + Cd(s) \rightarrow 2F^-(aq) + Cd^{2+}(aq)
Species Oxidized:
The species that is oxidized is cadmium (Cd). In the reaction, cadmium (Cd) loses two electrons to form Cd²⁺. Oxidation involves the loss of electrons, and since cadmium loses electrons, it is the species that undergoes oxidation.
Species Reduced:
The species that is reduced is fluorine (F₂). Fluorine gas (F₂) gains two electrons to form fluoride ions (F⁻). Reduction involves the gain of electrons, and since fluorine gains electrons, it is the species that undergoes reduction.
Oxidizing Agent:
The oxidizing agent is the species that causes the oxidation of another species by accepting electrons. In this reaction, fluorine (F₂) is the oxidizing agent. It gains electrons and, in the process, oxidizes cadmium.
Reducing Agent:
The reducing agent is the species that donates electrons to another species, causing its reduction. In this case, cadmium (Cd) is the reducing agent because it donates electrons to fluorine and gets oxidized to Cd²⁺.
Explanation of Electron Transfer:
As the reaction proceeds, electrons are transferred from cadmium (Cd) to fluorine (F₂). Cadmium, which starts as a solid metal (Cd), loses two electrons to form the cadmium ion (Cd²⁺), and these electrons are gained by fluorine gas (F₂), reducing it to fluoride ions (F⁻). The electrons transferred are what facilitate the reduction of fluorine and the oxidation of cadmium.
Image Generation:
Now, let’s visualize this process. I’ll generate a diagram to represent the electron transfer between cadmium and fluorine.
Here is a diagram that visually represents the electron transfer process between cadmium (Cd) and fluorine (F₂), with the respective oxidation and reduction steps clearly illustrated. The diagram shows how cadmium (Cd) loses electrons (oxidation), and fluorine (F₂) gains electrons (reduction).
