Question

Sodium sulfate reacts with carbon to produce the products sodium sulfide and carbon monoxide. Identify the reducing agent in the following reaction.

Na2SO4 + 4C yields Na2S + 4CO

Na2SO4
C
Na2S
CO

Answer 1

Answer : The correct option is, carbon (C)

Explanation :

Oxidizing agent : Oxidizing agent are the agent that gains electrons and is reduced in a chemical reaction.

Reducing agent : Reducing agent are the agent that lose electrons and is oxidized in a chemical reaction.

The given balanced chemical reaction is,

`Na_2SO_4+4C\rightarrow Na_2S+4CO`

First we have to calculate the oxidation number of sulfur and carbon.

The oxidation state of 'S' in
`Na_2SO_4` and
`Na_2S` are, (+6) and (-2) respectively.

The oxidation state of 'C' in
`4C` and
`4CO` are, (0) and (+2) respectively.

From this we conclude that, the
`Na_2SO_4` act as an oxidizing agent and 'C' act as a reducing agent.

Hence, the reducing agent in the following reaction is, carbon (C)

Answer 2

The reducing agent will itself be oxidized.
The oxidation number of carbon goes form 0 to +2. Therefore, it is the reducing agent.