Question

Identify the substance oxidised, reduced, oxidising agent and reducing agent for the following reaction : $HCHO(l)+2[Ag(NH_{3})_{2}]^{+}(aq)+3OH^{-}(aq) \longrightarrow 2Ag(s)+HCOO^{-}(aq)+4NH_{3}(aq)+2H_{2}O(l)$

Answer 1

Ag(NH3)2+^ is reduced and is the oxidising agent

OH-^ is oxidised and is the reducing agent

Answer 2

"$HCHO(l)\quad +\quad 2{ \left[ Ag{ \left( { NH }_{ 3 }\right)}_{ 2 }\right]}^{ + }(aq)\quad +\quad 3{ OH }^{ - }(aq)\quad \rightarrow \quad 2Ag(s)\quad +\quad HCOO(aq)\quad +\quad 4{ NH }_{ 3 }(aq)\quad +\quad 2{ H }_{ 2 }O(l)$

In the above reaction,${ \left[ Ag{ \left( { NH }_{ 3 }\right)}_{ 2 } \right]}^{ + } is reduced to { Ag }^{ + }$

HCHO is oxidized to ${ HCOO }^{ - }$

${ \left[ Ag{ \left( { NH }_{ 3 }\right)}_{ 2 }\right]}^{ + }$, the oxidizing agent.

HCHO is the reducing agent."