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uk AS 037 10-Jul-12
Write half equations for:
Give oxidation states for S in each formulae

2 Cl– → Cl2 + 2 e–
Cl– → Cl2 2 Br– → Br2 + 2 e–

Br– → Br2 2 I– → I2 + 2 e–

– H2SO4 + 2 H+ + 2 e– → SO2 + 2 H2O

I → I2
H2SO4 + 6 H+ + 6 e– → S + 4 H2O
H2SO4 → SO2
H2SO4 + 8 H+ + 8 e– → H2S + 4 H2O
H2SO4 → S

H2SO4 → H2S

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 2.5.3 - Reducing power of Halides

2 X– → X2 + 2 e–

When a halide ion reduces another substance, the

halide is oxidised to a halogen.

This experiment compares how well the halides

reduce H2SO4 to compare the reducing power of the
halide ions.

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halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl–

Br–

I–

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes

Br–

I–

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halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes

HBr steamy fumes

Br– Br2 brown fumes

SO2 colourless gas

I–

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes

HBr steamy fumes

Br– Br2 brown fumes

SO2 colourless gas

HI steamy fumes

I2 purple fumes

I– SO2 colourless gas

S yellow solid

H 2S gas (bad egg

smell)

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Formation of hydrogen halides:

NaX + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HX

e.g. NaCl + H2SO4 → NaHSO4 + HCl

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes acid-base NaCl + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HCl

HBr steamy fumes acid-base NaBr + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HBr

Br– Br2 brown fumes

SO2 colourless gas

HI steamy fumes acid-base NaI + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HI

I2 purple fumes

I– SO2 colourless gas

S yellow solid

H 2S gas (bad egg

smell)

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes acid-base NaCl + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HCl

HBr steamy fumes acid-base NaBr + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HBr

Br– Br2 brown fumes 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

SO2 colourless gas 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

HI steamy fumes acid-base NaI + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HI

I2 purple fumes

I– SO2 colourless gas

S yellow solid

H 2S gas (bad egg

smell)

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes acid-base NaCl + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HCl

HBr steamy fumes acid-base NaBr + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HBr

Br– Br2 brown fumes 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

SO2 colourless gas 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

HI steamy fumes acid-base NaI + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HI

I2 purple fumes 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

I– SO2 colourless gas 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

S yellow solid 6 I– + H2SO4 + 6 H+  3 I2 + S + 4 H2O

H 2S gas (bad egg 8 I– + H2SO4 + 8 H+  4 I2 + H2S + 4 H2O

smell)

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes acid-base NaCl + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HCl

HBr steamy fumes acid-base NaBr + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HBr

Br– Br2 brown fumes reduction of Br– 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

SO2 colourless gas reduction of H2SO4 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

HI steamy fumes acid-base NaI + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HI

I2 purple fumes 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

I– SO2 colourless gas 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

S yellow solid 6 I– + H2SO4 + 6 H+  3 I2 + S + 4 H2O

H 2S gas (bad egg 8 I– + H2SO4 + 8 H+  4 I2 + H2S + 4 H2O

smell)

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12

halide products observation reaction type equation

Cl– HCl steamy fumes acid-base NaCl + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HCl

HBr steamy fumes acid-base NaBr + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HBr

Br– Br2 brown fumes reduction of Br– 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

SO2 colourless gas reduction of H2SO4 2 Br– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  Br2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

HI steamy fumes acid-base NaI + H2SO4  NaHSO4 + HI

I2 purple fumes reduction of I– 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

I– SO2 colourless gas reduction of H2SO4 2 I– + H2SO4 + 2 H+  I2 + SO2 + 2 H2O

S yellow solid reduction of H2SO4 6 I– + H2SO4 + 6 H+  3 I2 + S + 4 H2O

H 2S gas (bad egg reduction of H2SO4 8 I– + H2SO4 + 8 H+  4 I2 + H2S + 4 H2O

smell)

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 Reducing power trend

Cl– does not reduce H2SO4

Br– reduces H2SO4 from S(+6) to S(+4)

I– reduces H2SO4 from S(+6) to S(-2)

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 Reducing power trend: Cl– < Br– < I–

When a halide ion acts as a reducing agent, it loses

electrons (given to the reduced species).

Cl–
2 X– → X2 + 2 e–

Down the group it becomes easier to

Br–
lose an electron because:
ions are larger & there is more
I– shielding (due to extra electron shell)

© www.chemsheets.co.uk AS 037 10-Jul-12