Fe2+ + MnO4- + Fe3+ + Mn2+ which of the elements is undergoing oxidation and which of the elements is the oxidizing agent?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Reduction is the gain of electrons.
The oxidizing agent is the one reduced.
Here are the hints:
Fe goes from 2+ to 3+.
Mn goes from 7+ on the left to 2+ on the right.
Fe
To determine which element is undergoing oxidation and which element is the oxidizing agent in the given reaction Fe2+ + MnO4- + Fe3+ + Mn2+, we can start by assigning oxidation numbers to each element.
In Fe2+, the oxidation number of Fe is +2.
In MnO4-, the oxidation number of Mn is +7.
In Fe3+, the oxidation number of Fe is +3.
In Mn2+, the oxidation number of Mn is +2.
We can see that the oxidation state of Fe has increased from +2 to +3, indicating that Fe has undergone oxidation. Therefore, Fe is undergoing oxidation in this reaction.
In MnO4-, the oxidation state of Mn has decreased from +7 to +2, indicating that MnO4- is acting as an oxidizing agent since it causes another element to be oxidized. Therefore, MnO4- is the oxidizing agent in this reaction.
To determine which element is undergoing oxidation and which element is the oxidizing agent in the given reaction, we need to compare the oxidation states of the elements before and after the reaction.
Let's start by assigning the oxidation states of the elements in the reaction:
Fe2+ + MnO4- + Fe3+ + Mn2+
The oxidation state of Fe in Fe2+ is +2, and in Fe3+ it is +3.
The oxidation state of Mn in MnO4- is +7, and in Mn2+ it is +2.
Now, let's analyze the changes in oxidation state:
Fe2+(+2) is oxidized to Fe3+(+3), which means that Fe has undergone oxidation and its oxidation state has increased from +2 to +3.
MnO4-(-2) is reduced to Mn2+(+2), which means that Mn has undergone reduction and its oxidation state has decreased from +7 to +2.
Based on this analysis, we can conclude that Fe is undergoing oxidation and Mn is undergoing reduction.
The oxidizing agent is the species that causes another element to be oxidized. In this reaction, MnO4- is the oxidizing agent because it causes Fe2+ to be oxidized to Fe3+.
So, in the given reaction, Fe is undergoing oxidation and MnO4- is the oxidizing agent.