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Topic: Halogen Solutions  (Read 2632 times)

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Offline tyneoh

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Halogen Solutions
« 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+h2: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  :)

Online Borek

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Re: Halogen Solutions
« Reply #1 on: September 01, 2012, 07:34:03 AM »
Cl2+h2:rarrow: HOCL+HCL

More precisely

Cl2 + H2::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.
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Offline Vidya

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Re: Halogen Solutions
« Reply #2 on: September 04, 2012, 03:23:22 AM »
Halogen solution are great oxidising agents right? But when you dissolve halogens(chlorine, bromine) in water, ionic compounds are formed
Cl2+h2: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.

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