Answered

Welcome to Westonci.ca, your ultimate destination for finding answers to a wide range of questions from experts. Join our Q&A platform to connect with experts dedicated to providing precise answers to your questions in different areas. Connect with a community of professionals ready to help you find accurate solutions to your questions quickly and efficiently.

Which answer best describes what is happening in the following reaction?

[tex]\[2 C_8H_{18} + 25 O_2 \longrightarrow 16 CO_2 + 18 H_2O\][/tex]

A. This is not a redox reaction. It is an example of combustion.
B. This is a redox reaction in which octane \(\left(C_8H_{18}\right)\) is the reducing agent.
C. This is a redox reaction in which carbon dioxide \(\left(CO_2\right)\) burns due to ignition.
D. This is not a redox reaction, because a solution of carbon dioxide and water results.

Sagot :

GinnyAnswer
Let's analyze the given chemical reaction:

[tex]\[ 2 \text{C}_8 \text{H}_{18} + 25 \text{O}_2 \longrightarrow 16 \text{CO}_2 + 18 \text{H}_2 \text{O} \][/tex]

### Step-by-step breakdown:

1. Identify the type of reaction:
- The reaction given is a combustion reaction, as it involves a hydrocarbon (octane, \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\)) reacting with oxygen (\(\text{O}_2\)) to produce carbon dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)) and water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)).

2. Check if it's a redox reaction:
- A redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction involves the transfer of electrons where the oxidation states of atoms change.

3. Determine the oxidation states of elements in the reactants and products:
- For \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\):
- Carbon in hydrocarbons generally has an oxidation state of \(-3\) because hydrogen is \(+1\).
- For \(\text{O}_2\):
- The oxidation state of the oxygen molecule (\(\text{O}_2\)) is \(0\) because it's in its elemental form.
- For \(\text{CO}_2\):
- Carbon in \(\text{CO}_2\) has an oxidation state of \(+4\) because oxygen is \(-2\).
- For \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\):
- Hydrogen is \(+1\) and oxygen is \(-2\).

4. Determine changes in oxidation states:
- Carbon in \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\) goes from \(-3\) (in \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\)) to \(+4\) (in \(\text{CO}_2\)). This is an increase in oxidation state, meaning carbon is being oxidized.
- Oxygen in \(\text{O}_2\) goes from \(0\) (in \(\text{O}_2\)) to \(-2\) (in \(\text{CO}_2\) and \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)). This is a decrease in oxidation state, meaning oxygen is being reduced.

5. Identify the reducing and oxidizing agents:
- The substance that is oxidized (losing electrons) is the reducing agent.
- Here, the carbon in \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\) is oxidized, making \(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\) the reducing agent.

### Conclusion:

The given reaction is indeed a redox reaction because there is a transfer of electrons as seen from the changes in oxidation states. The correct description of what is happening is:

[tex]\[ \text{This is a redox reaction in which octane (\(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\)) is the reducing agent.} \][/tex]

Thus, the best answer is:

[tex]\[ \text{This is a redox reaction in which octane (\(\text{C}_8\text{H}_{18}\)) is the reducing agent.} \][/tex]
We appreciate your visit. Our platform is always here to offer accurate and reliable answers. Return anytime. We hope this was helpful. Please come back whenever you need more information or answers to your queries. Thank you for visiting Westonci.ca. Stay informed by coming back for more detailed answers.