Question

Tell the substance oxidized - Pb3O4 + 8HCl ---→3PbCl2+ Cl2+ 4H2O In this reaction, is HCl is getting oxidized to Cl2, H2O, or both?

Answer 1

HCl is getting oxidized to Cl₂.
As the oxidation number of Cl in HCl is (-1) and in Cl₂ it is 0.
Whereas in H₂0 it remains the same, that is (-1).