Question

Use the change in oxidisation numbers to determine which elements are oxidised and reduced in this reaction.C + H2SO4 -->CO2 + SO2 +H2O

Answer 1

Hello,

xC+yH2SO4->xCO2+ySO2+zH2O

for H: 2y=2z==>y=z
for O:4y=2x+2y+z ==>2y=2x+z

Let's
z=t
y=t
2x=t or x=y/2

We suppose t=2
z=2
y=2
x=1
==>C+2H2SO4->CO2+2SO2+2H2O