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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: INeedSerotonin on February 16, 2020, 11:51:05 AM

Title: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: INeedSerotonin on February 16, 2020, 11:51:05 AM
(https://i10.servimg.com/u/f10/13/38/65/79/reduci10.jpg)

Hello. All of these reactions have their voltage on the right. I was asked "Is Ni2+ the best reducing agent?", to which I answered "yes", and the exercise said "no."

I don't know why this is so. If nickel has the most negative reducing potential, it looks to me like it wants to oxidize. And if it wants to do so, than it is a great reducing agent.

Am I right?
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: chenbeier on February 16, 2020, 01:28:50 PM
It would be the opposit. Nickel metal would be the best reducing agent. Silver is noble, nickel innoble.
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: INeedSerotonin on February 16, 2020, 01:31:34 PM
Quote from: chenbeier on February 16, 2020, 01:28:50 PM
It would be the opposit. Nickel metal would be the best reducing agent. Silver is noble, nickel innoble.

It does make sense! I guess the answer I was given is wrong then. Thank you!  ;)
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: Borek on February 16, 2020, 04:42:47 PM
Question asked about metallic Ni or Ni2+? These are quite different things.
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: INeedSerotonin on February 21, 2020, 02:30:07 PM
Quote from: Borek on February 16, 2020, 04:42:47 PM
Question asked about metallic Ni or Ni2+? These are quite different things.

The exercise mentions Ni2+.
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: Borek on February 21, 2020, 03:10:07 PM
Then we are not talking about the nickel metal which would be a reducing agent, but about a cation which is not.
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: INeedSerotonin on February 21, 2020, 08:49:14 PM
Quote from: Borek on February 21, 2020, 03:10:07 PM
Then we are not talking about the nickel metal which would be a reducing agent, but about a cation which is not.

It does make sense. I hadn't noticed how, when we invert the nickel's reduction reaction, it goes from an oxidizing agent to a reducing agent.

I think I got it now.

Thanks!  ;)
Title: Re: Which one is the best reducing agent?
Post by: Babcock_Hall on February 24, 2020, 02:48:02 PM
Quote from: INeedSerotonin on February 21, 2020, 08:49:14 PM
It does make sense. I hadn't noticed how, when we invert the nickel's reduction reaction, it goes from an oxidizing agent to a reducing agent.
Ni is a reducing agent, and Ni(II) is an oxidizing agent.  I am not sure what you mean by inverting a reduction reaction, but I don't see how it changes something from being an oxidizing agent to a reducing agent.