Classify each of the following unbalanced half-reactions as eithe...

Question

Classify each of the following unbalanced half-reactions as either an oxidation or a reduction. 
(c) Cr(s) -> Cr3+ (aq)

Accepted Answer

welcome back everyone is the following half reaction, a reduction or an oxidation. We have solid potassium forming our potassium plus one carry on. And this is an unbalanced redox reaction. So in order to determine whether this is a reduction or oxidation, we wanted to find the oxidation state of potassium, which on the reacting side we can see potassium is in its standard state as a solid as a solid metal and so anything in its standard state is going to have an oxidation state equal to zero. So we'll note down that this is because it's in its standard state. Now on our product side, we wanted to find our oxidation state of our potassium catalon and recall that the oxidation state of an ion is going to be equal to its charge. And we can see we have a plus one charge on our product side for potassium ion. And so our oxidation state is going to equal plus one. So what we can observe is that our oxidation state went from zero to plus one. And so our oxidation state of potassium Increases by one unit. And so therefore the reaction occurs as an oxidation and this would be our final example. Our final answer to complete this example. So the reaction given occurs as an oxidation. If you have any questions, please, leave them down below and I'll see everyone in the next practice video

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