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Arrange the following substances in order from the best oxidizing agent to the poorest oxidizing agent: Pb2+, Cr2+, Li, Ag?

1) Pb2+, Cr2+, Li, Ag
2) Cr2+, Pb2+, Li, Ag
3) Ag, Li, Cr2+, Pb2+
4) Li, Ag, Pb2+, Cr2+

User Bassim
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Final answer:

Considering their reduction potentials, the order from best to poorest oxidizing agent is likely Ag, Pb2+, Cr2+, Li, corresponding to the student's option 3.

Step-by-step explanation:

To arrange the substances from the best oxidizing agent to the poorest oxidizing agent (Pb2+, Cr2+, Li, Ag), we need to consider their reduction potentials. In general, elements or ions with a higher reduction potential act as stronger oxidizing agents because they have a greater tendency to gain electrons. Silver (Ag) and lead (Pb2+) are both known to have a positive reduction potential, which would make them better oxidizing agents compared to lithium (Li), which has a very negative reduction potential as it is a Group 1 metal and thus a strong reducing agent. Chromium (Cr) typically has multiple oxidation states, and since it is not specified, we cannot accurately rank it without additional information. However, Cr2+ is normally not a very strong oxidizing agent.

Without specific reduction potentials for each species in the provided context, a likely order based on general knowledge of redox chemistry would be: Ag, Pb2+, Cr2+, Li; meaning that silver is the best oxidizing agent and lithium is the poorest. This would correspond to option 3 listed by the student.


User Matt Bryant
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