Free sulfur may act as either an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent. What is the best
experimental evidence for this statement?
(A) Sulfur forms sulfur dioxide as well as calcium sulfide.
(B) Sulfur is a nonmetal.
(C) Sulfur forms both organic and inorganic compounds.
(D) With six electrons in its outer shell the sulfur atom can either form a negative ion
by gaining two electrons from other elements or share its electrons with other more
electronegative elements.
(E) Sulfur is soluble in carbon disulfide as well as in alcohol.
3 answers
What do you know about oxidation/reduction. We know oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons. Therefore, for an element (any element) to be both an oxidizing agent AND a reducing agent, it must be capable of both losing and gaining electrons. Which of the statement tell you S can do that. By the way, I don't like the answers because both A and D look quite similar to me. I suppose an argument could be made that A was a specific case of D.
well then the question asks later on what the theoretical explanation would be so you choose A or D could the theoretical explanation be one of those and then the experimental be the other
I guess but its a poorly worded question and not much better for answers. I would choose A for the experimental and D for the theoretical.
1 answer