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Homework Help: Redox reactions - general question

  1. Jun 2, 2008 #1

    kandi2008

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    Redox reactions can take place in both acid or basic solutions, that I know. But, what if the type of solution in which the reaction occurs is not given? Am I to assume it is acid or basic?
     
    kandi2008, Jun 2, 2008
  2. jcsd
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  3. Jun 2, 2008 #2

    Borek

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    Staff: Mentor

    Better start with neutral.

    If in doubt you may try to balance knowing that in general oxidizers like MnO4- or CrO4-2 (Cr2O7-2) are effecitve in low pH, Cl2, ClO- - in basic. But then MnO4- works in basic (it gets reduced to MnO4-2), in neutral (MnO2) and acidic (Mn2+), so this approach can require additional information.
     
    Borek, Jun 2, 2008
  4. Jun 2, 2008 #3

    kandi2008

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    Thank you. That definately helps. But, where would I be able to find what certain substances reduce to? That would be a huge help.
     
    kandi2008, Jun 2, 2008
  5. Jun 2, 2008 #4

    Borek

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    Staff: Mentor

    Permanganate you already know, chromate or dichromate goes to Cr+3, chlorine (bromine, iodine) to Cl-. These are most common, others require more experience - and the only more or less sure method of finding out products is to check redox potentials in tables. But even that can be misleading.
     
    Borek, Jun 2, 2008
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