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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: escapeartistq on May 18, 2005, 07:06:56 PM

Title: Redox equation
Post by: escapeartistq on May 18, 2005, 07:06:56 PM

I am having a hard time understanding this redox equation.

Hg₂Cl₂ -> Hg₂²⁺ + 2Cl^-

What are the oxidation numbers for all the elements in this equation?

Title: Re:Redox equation
Post by: Nano on May 18, 2005, 07:15:55 PM

Hg2Cl2 -> Hg22+ + 2Cl-
+1 ,-1-->    2+      , -1

sorry, I am not sure if it's right

Title: Re:Redox equation
Post by: Borek on May 18, 2005, 07:28:09 PM

Quote from: escapeartistq on May 18, 2005, 07:06:56 PM

I am having a hard time understanding this redox equation.

There is no redox reaction here, this is simple dissociation. Both Hg in Hg2(2+) can be trated as +1.

Title: Re:Redox equation
Post by: escapeartistq on May 18, 2005, 08:05:59 PM

But here http://www.qivx.com/ispt/elements/ptw_080.php it says it is a redox equation. Also, I took the equation from a chemistry problem in which you have to identify dismutations among a number of given equations, and this was one them.  The solution to the problem says this is not a dismutation but I don't understand how it is a redox equation either.

Title: Re:Redox equation
Post by: AWK on May 19, 2005, 01:15:07 AM

But this link shows this reaction:
Hg2Cl2 + 2e- => 2Hg + 2Cl-
   reduction