When zinc metal is placed into a solution of silver nitrate, silver metal and zinc nitrate are produced according to this reaction: Zn(s) + 2 AgNO3(aq) —> 2 Ag(s) + Zn(NO3)2(aq). What chemical atom or ion in the reaction above is oxidized? Give a reason for your choice
1 answer
In the reaction given, zinc (Zn) is oxidized. This is because zinc starts as a solid metal (Zn(s)) and loses electrons to form zinc ions in the solution (Zn^2+). The oxidation state of zinc increases from 0 in its solid state to +2 in the zinc nitrate solution, indicating oxidation. Additionally, the zinc atoms lose electrons in the process, which is a characteristic of oxidation.