Question

Equivalent weight of an oxidizing or reducing agent is:
A.) $\dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight }}}}{{{\text{Number of electrons gained or lost}}}}$
B.) $\dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight }}}}{{{\text{Change in oxidation state}}}}$
C.) $\dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight }}}}{{{\text{Number of bonds}}}}$
D.) Both A and B

Answer 1

The equivalent weight can be defined as the mass of a given substance that will combine with a fixed quantity of another substance. Basically, equivalent weight is the mass of one equivalent of the given substance.

Complete step by step answer:
As we know that the equivalent weight is the measure of the mass proportion of the element which means the equivalent weight is that mass of a substance (element , compound or ion) which will react with the fixed mass of the other substance. Equivalent mass is that mass of a substance (element, compound or ion) which will combine with $1$ part of weight of hydrogen or $8$ parts of weight of oxygen or $35.5$ parts of weight of chlorine.
Numerically, the equivalent weight can be defined as the division or ratio of the atomic weight or formula weight with the valency of the given compound. Here, formula weight is simply defined as the sum of the atomic weight of the ions present in a formula unit. The formula of the equivalent weight can be given as :
Equivalent weight$= \dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight}}}}{{{\text{Valency}}}}$
And for oxidizing and reducing agents, the valency is the change in oxidation state or number of gain or loss of electrons. Therefore, for oxidizing and reducing agent the equivalent weight can be given as:
Equivalent weight$= \dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight}}}}{{{\text{Change in oxidation state}}}}$
Or
Equivalent weight$= \dfrac{{{\text{Formula weight}}}}{{{\text{Number of electrons gained or lost}}}}$

Hence, option D.) is the correct answer.

Note:
Always remember that the equivalent mass is different from the molecular mass. The molecular mass is the simple mass of a given substance but the equivalent mass is that mass of a chemical entity which combines with $1$ part of hydrogen or $8$ parts of oxygen.