Consider the following redox reaction:
2Cu2O (s) + Cu2S (s) —— 6Cu (s) + SO2 (g)
Identify the species among the following acting as oxidant and reductant, respectively:
Cu(I) and S of Cu2S
Cu and S of SO2
Cu and O of SO2
Cu(I) and O of SO2
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2023
In Cu₂O, Cu is +1, O is -2.
In Cu₂S, Cu is +1, S is -2.
In Cu, Cu is 0.
In SO₂, S is +4, O is -2.
Cu changes from +1 to 0, so it is reduced. The species causing reduction (oxidant) contains Cu(+1). Both Cu₂O and Cu₂S contain Cu(+1).
S changes from -2 (in Cu₂S) to +4 (in SO₂), so it is oxidized. The species causing oxidation (reductant) is Cu₂S, specifically the S atom within it.
Thus, Cu(I) acts as the oxidant and S of Cu₂S acts as the reductant.