Question

Which property of hydrogen is shown by the following reaction?
$F{{e}_{3}}{{O}_{4}}+4{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow{{}}3Fe+{{H}_{2}}O$
$CO+{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow[Zn{{O}_{3}}]{C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}}C{{H}_{3}}OH$

Answer 1

In the first reaction, Ferrous sulphate oxide $\left( F{{e}_{3}}{{O}_{4}} \right)$ is losing oxygen to become iron and release water. In the second reaction hydrogen is being added to Co and this is the process of producing methanol commercially.

Complete step by step answer:
We have already studied that loss of oxygen or gain of hydrogen is termed as Reduction and loss of hydrogen or gain of oxygen is known as oxidation.
1. $F{{e}_{3}}{{O}_{4}}+4{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow{{}}3Fe+{{H}_{2}}O$
In this reaction, we can see that $F{{e}_{3}}S{{o}_{4}}$ is reduced to $Fe$ which implies that ${{H}_{2}}$ is acting as a reducing agent.

2. $CO+{{H}_{2}}\xrightarrow[Zn{{O}_{3}}]{C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}}C{{H}_{3}}OH$
In this reaction, we see CO is being reduced to $C{{H}_{3}}OH$ which implies the reducing character of ${{H}_{2}}$
Therefore, in both the cases, we can see that ${{H}_{2}}$ has a reducing character.

Note: 1. Reducing agent is a compound that donates (or loses) an electron to the electron gainer (or receives) in a redox reaction. A reducing agent gets oxidized.
2. Oxidising agent is a compound that removes electrons from other reactants in a redox reaction. An oxidizing agent is an electron acceptor and in this process it itself gets reduced.
3. Combustibility refers to the capability of catching fire and burning. For example, Gasoline vapour is highly combustible.
4. $C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}$ is chromium (III) oxide (also known as Dichromium Trioxide)
5. $C{{r}_{2}}{{O}_{3}}$ along with $ZN{{o}_{3}}$ is used as a catalyst for large scale production of methanol $\left( C{{H}_{3}}OH \right)$.