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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: tyneoh on September 01, 2012, 07:27:31 AM

Title: Halogen Solutions
Post by: tyneoh on September 01, 2012, 07:27:31 AM

Halogen solution are great oxidising agents right? But when you dissolve halogens(chlorine, bromine) in water, ionic compounds are formed
Cl₂+h₂0  :rarrow: HOCL+HCL.
There aren't any chlorine molecules to act as oxidising agents since only HOCL and HCL present.I am quite confused by this. Thanks in advance  :)

Title: Re: Halogen Solutions
Post by: Borek on September 01, 2012, 07:34:03 AM

Quote from: tyneoh on September 01, 2012, 07:27:31 AM

Cl₂+h₂0  :rarrow: HOCL+HCL

More precisely

Cl₂ + H₂O  ::equil:: HOCl + HCl

- this is an equilibrium reaction, so there is always some free chlorine available.

Besides, OCl^- is a strong oxidizing agent as well.

Title: Re: Halogen Solutions
Post by: Vidya on September 04, 2012, 03:23:22 AM

Quote from: tyneoh on September 01, 2012, 07:27:31 AM

Halogen solution are great oxidising agents right? But when you dissolve halogens(chlorine, bromine) in water, ionic compounds are formed
Cl₂+h₂0  :rarrow: HOCL+HCL.
There aren't any chlorine molecules to act as oxidising agents since only HOCL and HCL present.I am quite confused by this. Thanks in advance  :)

the reaction mentioned by you is a disproportionation reaction in which Cl2 is undergoing oxidation and reduction.Cl2 ----> HOCl is oxidation  and Cl2---> HCl is reduction.HCl is stable but HOCl has Cl in +1 oxidation state which is very unstable.It has very high tendency to undergo reduction and hence acts like very strong oxidizing agent.