Reducing Copper: Choosing the Most Effective Oxidizing Agent

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around identifying the most effective oxidizing agent for reducing copper, specifically comparing calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn) as potential candidates. The context includes considerations of their reactivity and practical applications in chemical reactions.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that since both Ca and Zn can oxidize more readily than copper, either could be a correct answer.
  • Another participant argues that a weaker oxidizing agent is a stronger reducer, implying that the agent lower on the electrochemical potential list would be the best choice.
  • A different viewpoint states that while zinc is the only correct answer in practical terms due to calcium's violent reaction with water, calcium could be a better reducing agent in specific conditions such as smelting in an inert atmosphere.
  • One participant expresses uncertainty about the correct answer for an exam question, noting that zinc seems to be the more convenient option.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on which oxidizing agent is definitively better for reducing copper, with multiple competing views presented regarding the conditions and contexts in which each agent may be effective.

Contextual Notes

There are limitations regarding the assumptions about the reactivity of calcium and zinc in different environments, as well as the specific conditions under which they may be used as reducing agents.

Procrastinate
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Today there was a question that asked what would reduce copper?

As a multiple choice question, it was narrowed down to Ca and Zn as they were the only ones that would oxidise more readily than copper.

However, as Ca was lower than Zn, I chose that one because it was the "weaker oxidizing agent." Would that be right?
 
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Technically, anything that is lower down on the Ep potential list should give its electrons to copper therefore both answers are correct.
 
Yeah, I'm pretty sure that any oxidizing agent that is weaker than another makes it a stronger reducer than the other. But the one that is farther down would be the best reducer. IE hydroiodic acid would be a really good reducer.
 
I guess that zinc is the only correct answer because calcium violently reacts with water and thus cannot be used for reducing copper from solutions. On the other hand calcium is definitely a better reducing agent if you smelt it with copper compound in inert atmosphere (otherwise it reacts with air).
 
Thanks for the answers so far. It was in my exam and I didn't know which one to pick but I was just really curious to know which one was the answer.

However, there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer besides that Zinc is probably better in terms of convenience.
 

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