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Question 8.15 Justify giving reactions that among halogens, fluorine is the best oxidant and among hydrohalic compounds, hydroiodic acid is the best reductant.

Class XI Redox Reactions Page 273

Answers

Answered by abhi178
1
as you know, higher the standard electrode potential means higher is the oxidizing power.
in case of halogens , standard electrode potential are positive and decreases from fluorine to iodine. Thus, halogens acts as strong oxidizing agents and their oxidising power decreases from fluorine to iodine.
hence, Fluorine is the strongest oxidizing agent. it can oxidises other halide ions to halogens .e.g.,
 F_2 + 2X^- ---> 2F^- + X_2
where [ X = Cl , Br , I ]

in general , a halogen of low atomic number can oxidises the halide ion of higher atomic number .Halide ion X^- , when react with an oxidizing agent. it reduces the oxidising agent and is itself oxidised to X2 molecule.
the tendency to lose electron from F^- to I^- increases . due to this reducing power of X^- ions increases from F^- to I^- .

hence, it means F^- is weakest reducing agent .it is so weak as a reducing agent that it doesn't reduce even very strong oxidizing agent ( H2SO4 ). while I^- is the strongest reducing agent . and is itself oxidised I2 . That's why HI ( hydroiodic acid ) is the best reductant or reducing agent .

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