Question

Based on your observations and conclusions from this week's experiment, which of the following statements are true about oxidation?

a) The metal changes from elemental form (a solid metal) to ionic form in solution.
b) The metal loses electrons
c) The charge of the metal decreases.
d) The metal gains electrons
e) The metal changes from ionic form in solution to elemental form (a solid metal).

Answer 1

The true statement about oxidation from the experiment is that the charge of the metal increases when it loses electrons. This causes oxidation, which is the loss of electrons, leading to an increase in the oxidation number.

Step-by-step explanation:

In this week's experiment, which statement about oxidation is true depends on the processes that occurred. For oxidation, the charge of a metal typically increases, as it involves the loss of electrons. Conversely, for a metal to change from its ionic form in solution to the elemental form, it must gain electrons, which is a reduction process, not oxidation. Therefore, the correct statement about oxidation in this context is that the charge of the metal increases (as it loses electrons).

During the reaction, if a silver ion gains electrons, it is reduced to form metallic silver - a process that lowers the charge because reduction is the gain of electrons. Meanwhile, the oxidation of copper metal would happen as it loses electrons to form copper ions with an increasing positive charge, making oxidation the loss of electrons.