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Multiple Choice
Determine if the following reaction represents an oxidation, reduction or neither.
A
Oxidation
B
Reduction
C
Neither
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1
Identify the species involved in the reaction and their oxidation states. In the given reaction, iron changes from Fe(III) in FeCl3 to Fe(III) in FeCl4-, and chlorine changes from Cl- to Cl- in FeCl4-.
Determine the oxidation state changes for each element. Since iron remains at +3 and chlorine remains at -1, there is no change in oxidation states for either element.
Recall that oxidation involves an increase in oxidation state, and reduction involves a decrease in oxidation state. Since neither iron nor chlorine changes oxidation state, neither oxidation nor reduction occurs.
Recognize that the reaction is a coordination or complexation reaction where FeCl3 reacts with Cl- to form FeCl4-, without electron transfer that changes oxidation states.
Conclude that the reaction represents neither oxidation nor reduction because there is no change in oxidation numbers of the elements involved.