In which of the following reactions does hydrogen act as a reducing agent?

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Question: In which of the following reactions does hydrogen act as a reducing agent?

Options:

Correct Answer: H2 + CuO → Cu + H2O

Solution:

In the reaction H2 + CuO → Cu + H2O, hydrogen reduces copper(II) oxide to copper.

In which of the following reactions does hydrogen act as a reducing agent?

In which of the following reactions does hydrogen act as a reducing agent?

Step 1: Identify the reactants in the reaction: H2 (hydrogen) and CuO (copper(II) oxide).
Step 2: Understand what a reducing agent does: A reducing agent donates electrons to another substance, causing that substance to be reduced.
Step 3: Determine what happens to CuO in the reaction: CuO gains electrons from H2 and is converted to Cu (copper).
Step 4: Recognize that since H2 donates electrons to CuO, it is acting as a reducing agent.
Step 5: Conclude that in the reaction H2 + CuO → Cu + H2O, hydrogen reduces copper(II) oxide to copper.

Redox Reactions – Reactions involving the transfer of electrons, where one species is oxidized and another is reduced.
Reducing Agents – Substances that donate electrons in a chemical reaction, causing another substance to be reduced.
Oxidation States – The charge of an atom in a compound, which helps in identifying the changes during redox reactions.