This chemical reaction is depicted: SnO2 + H2 → Sn + H2O What can be affirmed regarding this chemical reaction?

1 answer

The chemical reaction you've provided is:

\[ \text{SnO}_2 + \text{H}_2 \rightarrow \text{Sn} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]

This reaction can be analyzed based on several aspects:

  1. Redox Reaction: This reaction is a type of redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction. In this reaction, tin(IV) oxide (SnO₂) is reduced to metallic tin (Sn), while hydrogen (H₂) is oxidized to form water (H₂O). Thus, SnO₂ acts as an oxidizing agent, and H₂ acts as a reducing agent.

  2. Stoichiometry: The balanced reaction indicates that one mole of tin(IV) oxide reacts with one mole of hydrogen to produce one mole of tin and one mole of water. It's important to balance the equation properly in practical applications.

  3. Temperature and Conditions: This reaction typically requires elevated temperatures to proceed at a significant rate since it involves the reduction of a metal oxide.

  4. Energy Change: The reaction is likely exothermic, meaning it releases energy, though the specifics would depend on the enthalpy changes associated with the reactants and products.

  5. Applications: This type of reaction can be important in metallurgy, particularly in the extraction of tin from its ore, as well as in various chemical manufacturing processes.

In summary, this reaction involves redox processes, is balanced with respect to the number of atoms and charge, typically requires heat to drive it, and has practical applications in material science and metallurgy.