Hello,

I had a lab about calorimetry and one of the questions was if the reaction of acetone with hypochlorite is an oxidation/reduction or acid/base.

Would the answer be: oxidation/reduction
because the oxygen from the hydroxide from the Sodium hydroxide detaches and joins the Chlorine from the Chlorine gas? The Sodium also forms a bond with the other CHlorine. Is this correct?

3 answers

You have the reaction right, however, oxygen does not join the chlorine. Things are oxidation or reduction because electrons detach and move from species to species.
so the oxygen molecule detachs from the Hydroxide and moves to electronegative species right?
I got it, oxidation state of reactants is going to be (+5) and products (-4) so it's an oxidation reaction, thanks for the info Bob!