Question
Question: Consider the reaction of water with \({{F}_{2}}\) and suggest in terms of oxidation and reduction, w...
Consider the reaction of water with F2 and suggest in terms of oxidation and reduction, which species are oxidized or reduced.
Solution
This reaction leads to the formation of either oxygen or ozone. Consider the difference in electronegativities between fluorine and oxygen and determine whether they will get oxidized or reduced based on that.
Complete step by step solution:
First let us look at the definitions of oxidation and reduction and what they mean in relation to electrons. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, if the oxidation number of a charged species increases after a reaction, it is getting oxidized. Conversely, reduction means the gain of electrons and if the oxidation number is decreasing then the species is getting reduced.
Now, let us determine what will happen when a reaction between water and fluorine takes place and how ozone or oxygen will be formed. We know that fluorine is more electronegative than oxygen, so it will take electrons that were initially with oxygen forming hydrofluoric acid. The two reactions are as follows: