Best Reducing Agent

[rocknightmare]

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what on earth is that??

i saw that question on the dat booklet exam and i was like huh?

can anybody explain how i find the best reducing agents if i have two different atoms being oxidized (reducing agents).

thanks

 

[jk5177]

For all these redox problems, the key is knowing the oxidation numbers. It is not formal charge, instead you are looking at oxidation numbers. The way I remember is that oxygen is always -2 (with some minor exceptions, but I wouldn't worry about them), and then Hydrogen is +1, (also with some exceptions, but I wouldn't worry about them). So after you assign oxidation number to these two kinds of elements, most of the oxidation number for the rest of the molecule will implicitly fall in place once they all add up to the oxidation number of the whole molecule.
That's the first part, and that's as hard as it gets, not too hard right? Then, the best reducing agent is the one that is mostly oxidized. You say what? Basically you find with of the element on the left side has the highest amount of increase in the oxidation number as the reaction takes place (ie right side), then that is the best reducing agent. The best reducing agent is the one that is most oxidized.

Hope it helps. I was confused with this too, but it is an critical concept that will occur on the real DAT.

Jason

 

[rocknightmare]

what if there are two elements that are oxidized to the same extent...

then which one is the best reducing agent??

 

[DrTacoElf]

what if there are two elements that are oxidized to the same extent...

then which one is the best reducing agent??

it all has to do with standard reduction potentials. The more + the number the easier it is reduced.

 

[ems5184]

do you get a table of the standard reduction potentials for the dat? otherwise you cant solve a problem like this, or maybe it just wouldnt appear on the actual test.

 

[blumnday99]

do you get a table of the standard reduction potentials for the dat? otherwise you cant solve a problem like this, or maybe it just wouldnt appear on the actual test.

I think that if you need standard reduction potentials for a problem, it's given in that problem. I haven't taken the DAT yet, but on all the practice tests, there's no standard reduction table.

 

[Sprgrover]

what on earth is that??

i saw that question on the dat booklet exam and i was like huh?

can anybody explain how i find the best reducing agents if i have two different atoms being oxidized (reducing agents).

thanks

Any metal borohydride will be an extremely strong reducing agents, such LiBH4.

Strong oxidizing agents include cromium reagents, such as Jones reagagent.

 

[Awara]

I think LAH(lithium aluminium Hydride, LiAlH4) is probably the stronget reducing agent that I have seen in my text book and Kaplan. But like others said the best way to do this is by reduction potentials and I am sure they won't ask you to make very close calls on the DAT eventhough I haven't taken mine yet. I am taking mine in 18th of this month.

 

[Sprgrover]

I think LAH(lithium aluminium Hydride, LiAlH4) is probably the stronget reducing agent that I have seen in my text book and Kaplan. But like others said the best way to do this is by reduction potentials and I am sure they won't ask you to make very close calls on the DAT eventhough I haven't taken mine yet. I am taking mine in 18th of this month.

If they do it will be something like "LAH, water, air, your brain while taking this exam."