Question

Why is \[\ce{HCl}\] not used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of \[\ce{KMnO4}\] in acidic medium?

पर्याय

• Both \[\ce{HCl}\] and \[\ce{KMnO4}\] act as oxidising agents.

• \[\ce{KMnO4}\] oxidises \[\ce{HCl}\] into \[\ce{Cl2}\] which is also an oxidising agent.

• \[\ce{KMnO4}\] is a weaker oxidising agent than \[\ce{HCl}\].

• \[\ce{KMnO4}\] acts as a reducing agent in the presence of \[\ce{HCl}\].

Answer 1

\[\ce{KMnO4}\] oxidises \[\ce{HCl}\] into \[\ce{Cl2}\] which is also an oxidising agent.

Explanation:

\[\ce{HCl}\] is not used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of \[\ce{KMnO4}\] in acidic medium. The reason is that if \[\ce{HCl}\] is used, the oxygen produced from \[\ce{KMnO4 + HCl}\] is partly utilized in oxidizing \[\ce{HCl}\] to \[\ce{Cl}\], which itself acts as an oxidizing agent and partly oxidises the reducing agent.