Chemistry · Electronic concepts of oxidation and reduction, redox reactions, oxidation number, rules for assigning oxidation number and balancing of redox reactions

The reaction that takes place when gas is passed through conc. NaOH solution is

The reaction that takes place when \( C l_{2} \) gas is passed through conc. NaOH solution is :

  • A. oxidation
  • B. reduction
  • C. displacement
  • D. disproportionation

Step-by-step solution

When Cl2 gas is passed through concentrated NaOH solution, it undergoes a disproportionation reaction. Chlorine (oxidation state 0) is simultaneously reduced to chloride (Cl-, oxidation state -1) and oxidized to chlorate (ClO3-, oxidation state +5). The reaction is: 3Cl2 + 6NaOH → 5NaCl + NaClO3 + 3H2O. This is a classic example of disproportionation, where the same element is both oxidized and reduced.
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