Question

In a battery, if the following oxidation-reduction reactions takes place normally:

Mn2O₃ + ZnO ---> 2 MnO₂ + Zn
What reaction would be taking place if you were recharging the battery?
Select one:
a.ZnO ---> Zn
b.Mn₂O₃ ---> MnO₂
c.2 MnO₂ + Zn ---> Mn₂O₃ + ZnO
d.all of the above

Answer 1

When recharging a battery with the reaction Mn2O3 + ZnO -> 2 MnO2 + Zn, the reverse reaction occurs: 2 MnO2 + Zn -> Mn2O3 + ZnO, which is option c.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction that takes place when recharging a battery involves the reverse process of the discharge reaction. In the case of the redox reaction presented: Mn₂O₃ + ZnO ---> 2 MnO₂ + Zn, the recharge reaction would be the reverse:

c. 2 MnO₂ + Zn ---> Mn₂O₃ + ZnO

Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option c. This is because during recharging, the chemical reactions that occurred during the discharge (oxidation and reduction processes) are reversed to restore the electrodes to their original states. In this specific case, manganese (IV) oxide is reduced back to manganese (III) oxide, and zinc is re-deposited from its oxidized state.