Question

Consider the following unbalanced redox reaction:
MnO4-(aq) + SbH3 (aq) ---> MnO2(s) + Sb(s)

What is the oxidizing agent in the reaction?
Select one:
a. MnO4-
b. SbH3
c. MnO2
d. Sb

Answer 1

Assign oxidation-numbers and you fast find out. Remember oxygen is -2 (unless peroxide) and the sum of oxidation numbers equals the change.

Answer 2

MnO4- is the answer

Answer 3

@stevensde why is \(MnO_4^-\) the answer?

Answer 4

True because permanganate go from VII to IV.

Answer 5

MnO4- is the oxidizing agent because its getting reduced and acts as an oxidizing agent!

Answer 6

That is what I said... just using lazy chemistry slang.

Answer 7

Never the less now I can show you HOW we can see it reduced:
Oxidation-numbers (I won't use roman numbers this time):
MnO4-(aq): Mn -> +7
SbH3 (aq): Sb -> -3
MnO2(s): Mn -> +4
Sb(s): Sb -> 0

So we can see that:
Mn go from +7 to +4
Sb go from -3 to 0

Now per definition:
oxidation is when delivering elections, reduction receiving them.
So when a oxidation number increases the atoms gets oxidized, and when it drops it get reduced.

Answer 8

I may not excel at chemistry, but at least I know how to be pleasant towards other people.
I am grateful to hear your explanations and I am willing to learn new things. But "lazy chemistry slang" is offensive. Obviously you know your stuff involving chemistry, but please don't make me feel as lesser of an individual. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.

Answer 9

Wow wow wow calm down, first of all I was not trying to be offensive or had any intensions of being so. When that is said I don't know your chemistry level and therefor I kinda hoped and wished you would request for more info if what I started with was to hard or just not understandable. When that is said, I find it terrible you choose to accuse and you offending ME, instead of asking why I behaved and used the words I did, which I do now:
When answering your own question, I assume you do understand it, but merely uncertain (personal feeling I ones had) so I thought "I just write that it is correct" and as I did I wrote is my professors speak to me. Obviously that was wrong. But I'm not going to say sorry, as I do not see or feel any guilt from my actions and assumed you knew or had an idea about what I wrote... that you were equal in knowledge which I like to start at :)

Answer 10

I only wanted to give you the best explanation, how to do so depend on each person. But criticism noticed and will be taking into consideration next time.

Answer 11

well this was a fun comment session to walk into. when both parties decide to get butthurt and want to have an arguments behind their own screens. you two should see how ignorant this sounds when one asks for help, gets it and then complains and the other person wants to be high and mighty. sort of funny