What is the substance gaining oxygen and being oxidized during the des...
- In a redox reaction, one substance is oxidized (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons).
- Oxidation involves the gain of oxygen.
- Copper (Cu) gains oxygen to form CuO, thus it is oxidized.
- Therefore, the substance gaining oxygen and being oxidized is copper (Cu).
- Correct answer: A: Cu
What is the substance gaining oxygen and being oxidized during the des...
Understanding the Reaction
The reaction given is:
2Cu(s) + O2(g) → 2CuO(s)
This equation describes a chemical reaction where copper (Cu) reacts with oxygen (O2) to form copper(II) oxide (CuO).
What is Oxidation?
In chemistry, oxidation refers to the process where a substance loses electrons or gains oxygen.
Identifying the Oxidized Substance
- In this reaction, copper (Cu) is the substance that is oxidized.
- Copper reacts with oxygen, and during this process, copper loses electrons and gains oxygen to form CuO.
Oxidation Process
- Copper (Cu) goes from an elemental state (0 oxidation state) to a compound state (oxidation state +2 in CuO).
- By gaining oxygen, Cu is effectively losing electrons, which is the hallmark of oxidation.
Conclusion
- Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A', which indicates that copper (Cu) is the substance that is being oxidized in this reaction.
- Oxygen (O2) is actually being reduced in this process, as it gains electrons by reacting with copper.
In summary, the reaction showcases a redox process where copper is oxidized and oxygen is reduced, clearly identifying copper as the substance that gains oxygen and undergoes oxidation.