Question

"Orthophosphoric acid (H₃PO₄) is not a reducing agent whereas hypophosphorus acid (H₃PO₂) is a strong reducing agent " Explain and justify the above statement with the help of a suitable example.

Answer 1

Hypophosphorous acid is a good reducing agent as it contains two P-H bonds. There is no p-H bond in orthophosphoric acid, so it is not a reducing agent.

Example : It reduces AgNO₃ to metallic silver /chemical equation.