Question

In the following chemical reaction “zinc oxide reacts with carbon to produce zinc metal and carbon monoxide”.
ZnO + C → Zn + CO
i. Identify the substance getting oxidised and the one getting reduced.
ii. State the reason for choosing the substances in (i).
iii. Name the type of reaction and give another example of similar type of reaction.

Answer 1

i. Carbon (C) is being oxidised and zinc oxide (ZnO) is being reduced.
ii. Reason for choosing substances in (i): Carbon (C) gains oxygen and acts as a reducing agent. Similarly, zinc oxide (ZnO) loses oxygen and acts as anoxidising agent.
iii. The given reaction is a redox reaction.
Another example – Reaction between iron (III) oxide and carbon is also a redox reaction.