Practice Problem 9

Arrange the following oxidizing and reducing agents in order of increasing strength:

          Reducing agents: Cl^-, Cu, H₂, H^-, HF, Pb, and Zn

          Oxidizing agents: Cr³⁺, Cr₂O₇^2-, Cu²⁺, H⁺, O₂, O₃, and Na⁺

Answer

According to the preceding table of relative strengths, the reducing agents become stronger in the following order:

HF< Cl^- < Cu< H₂ < Pb< Zn< H^-

The oxidizing agents become stronger in the following order:

Na⁺< Cr³⁺< H⁺< Cu²⁺< O₂< Cr₂O₇^2-< O₃