In the following redox reaction, which compound is acting as a reducing agent? N₂H₄ + 2H₂O₂ → N₂ + 4H₂O
- A.H₂O₂
- B.N₂H₄
- C.N₂
- D.H₂O
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is B, N₂H₄. A reducing agent is the substance that is itself oxidised while it reduces something else. In hydrazine, N₂H₄, nitrogen has an oxidation number of −2; in nitrogen gas, N₂, it is 0. Nitrogen's oxidation number rises, so hydrazine loses electrons, is oxidised, and acts as the reducing agent. At the same time, oxygen in hydrogen peroxide goes from −1 to −2 in water, so hydrogen peroxide is reduced and acts as the oxidising agent. This very reaction is used as a rocket propellant, because it releases a great deal of energy and only harmless nitrogen and water vapour. Option A is wrong because H₂O₂ gains electrons here and is the oxidising agent. Option C is wrong because N₂ is a product, formed after the oxidation, not the agent that does the reducing. Option D is wrong because water is also only a product of the reaction. Exam tip: the reducing agent is oxidised (its oxidation number rises); the oxidising agent is reduced.
Practice Questions
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- A.plastids
- B.membranous vesicles
- C.nucleoids
- D.chromosomes
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Photosynthetic bacteria have no chloroplasts; their pigments sit on infoldings of the cell membrane that form vesicles or sacs, often called chromatophores.
Read the full explanation →Fat in human body is stored in
- A.Adipose tissue
- B.Red blood cells
- C.Muscle tissue
- D.Epithelial tissue
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Adipose tissue is a loose connective tissue whose cells, called adipocytes, are built to store fat. Each cell holds a large droplet of fat that pushes the nucleus and cytoplasm to one side.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is a metalloid ?
- A.Germanium
- B.Coke
- C.Iodine
- D.Sugar
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Germanium is a metalloid, an element whose properties lie between those of metals and non-metals. It is a hard, shiny, grey-white solid like a metal, yet it is brittle and conducts electricity far less well than a metal, which makes it a semiconductor.
Read the full explanation →A photon of X-ray has energy of 1 keV. A photon of visible radiation has energy of 3 eV. In this context, which one of the following statements is not correct?
- A.The wavelength of X-ray photon is less than the wavelength of visible radiation photon.
- B.Both the photons have different energies.
- C.The speeds of both the photons in vacuum are different.
- D.The frequency of X-ray photon is higher than the frequency of visible radiation photon.
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This statement is wrong because every photon, whatever its energy, travels in vacuum at the same speed of light, about 3 × 10^8 metres per second.
Read the full explanation →Which of the following substances cause temporary hardness in water?
1. Mg(HCO3)2
2. Ca(HCO3)2
3. CaCl2
4. MgSO4
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- A.3 and 4
- B.2 and 3
- C.1 and 4
- D.1 and 2
Show answer
Temporary hardness is caused by the bicarbonates of magnesium and calcium, Mg(HCO3)2 and Ca(HCO3)2. It is called temporary because simple boiling removes it: on heating, the soluble bicarbonates break down into insoluble carbonate or hydroxide, carbon dioxide and water, and the solid settles out.
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