Question

What species is reduced in the reaction below?

Answer 1

Answer: The correct option is D) $Ag^+$

Explanation:

The oxidation reaction is defined as the reaction in which a chemical species loses electrons in a chemical reaction. It occurs when oxidation number of a species increases.

A reduction reaction is defined as the reaction in which a chemical species gains electrons in a chemical reaction. It occurs when oxidation number of a species decreases.

For the given chemical reaction:

$Zn^0+2Ag^+\rightarrow Zn^{2+}+2Ag^0$

On the reactant side:

Oxidation number of Zn = 0

Oxidation number of Ag = +1

On the product side:

Oxidation number of Zn = +2

Oxidation number of Ag = 0

As the oxidation number of Ag is decreasing from +1 to 0. Thus, $Ag^+$ is getting reduced.

Hence, the correct option is D) $Ag^+$