Question

AlCl3 + Na NaCl + Al Did Cl change oxidation number?

Answer 1

Yes. If this is the balanced equation:

AlCl3 + 3Na —— 3NaCl + Al

then Al was reduced from a 3+ oxidation (to neutralize the 3- from the chlorine) to a 0 oxidation (elemental ground state).

Answer 2

Answer : There is no change takes place in the oxidation number of Cl.

Explanation :

The given chemical reaction is,

$AlCl_3+Na\rightarrow NaCl+Al$

This reaction is an unbalanced reaction because the chlorine atoms are not balanced.

In order to balance the chemical reaction, the coefficient 3 is put before the Na and NaCl.

The balanced chemical reaction will be,

$AlCl_3+3Na\rightarrow 3NaCl+Al$

Now we have to calculate the oxidation number of all the elements.

In $AlCl_3$, the oxidation number of Al and Cl are, (+3) and (-1) respectively.

The oxidation number Na and Al are, zero (0)

In $NaCl$, the oxidation number of Na and Cl are, (+1) and (-1) respectively.

From this we conclude that the oxidation number of Cl changes from (-1) to (-1) that means remains same.

Therefore, there is no change takes place in the oxidation number of Cl.