Consider the reactions : (a) H_(3)PO_(2) (aq) + 4 AgNO_(3) (aq) +2 H_(2)O (1) to H_(3) PO_(4) ( aq) +4 Ag(s) + 4HNO_(3)(aq) (b) H_(3)PO_(2) (aq) + 2Cu SO_(4)(aq) + 2H_(2)O(1) to H_(3) PO_(4)(aq) + 2 Cu(s) + H_(2)SO_(4)(aq) (c) C_(6)H_(5) CHO(1) + 2[Ag (NH_(3))_(2)]^(+) (aq) + 3 OH^(-) (aq) to C_(6)H_(5)COO^(-)(aq) + 2Ag(s) + 4NH_(3)(aq) + 2 H_(2)O(1) (d) C_(6)H_(5)CHO(1) + 2Cu^(2+) (aq) + 5 OH^(-) (aq) toNo change observed . What inference do you draw about the behaviour of Ag^(+) and Cu^(2+) from these reactions ?

Consider the reactions : (a) H_(3)PO_(2) (aq) + 4 AgNO_(3) (aq) +2 H_(

1.	Consider the reactions : (a) H_(3)PO_(2) (aq) + 4 AgNO_(3) (aq) +2 H_(2)O (1) to H_(3) PO_(4) ( aq) +4 Ag(s) + 4HNO_(3)(aq) (b) H_(3)PO_(2) (aq) + 2Cu SO_(4)(aq) + 2H_(2)O(1) to H_(3) PO_(4)(aq) + 2 Cu(s) + H_(2)SO_(4)(aq) (c) C_(6)H_(5) CHO(1) + 2[Ag (NH_(3))_(2)]^(+) (aq) + 3 OH^(-) (aq) to C_(6)H_(5)COO^(-)(aq) + 2Ag(s) + 4NH_(3)(aq) + 2 H_(2)O(1) (d) C_(6)H_(5)CHO(1) + 2Cu^(2+) (aq) + 5 OH^(-) (aq) toNo change observed . What inference do you draw about the behaviour of Ag^(+) and Cu^(2+) from these reactions ?
Answer» Solution :These reactions SUGGEST that `Ag^(+)` ION is a stronger oxidising agent than `Cu^(+)` ion. It is evident from the following facts. (i) Reactions (a) and (b) suggest that both `Ag^(+)` and `Cu^(2+)` ions can oxidise `H_(3)PO_(3)` to `H_(3)PO_(4)`. Thus, both are oxidising agents. (ii) REACTION (c) suggests that `[Ag(NH_(3))_(2)]^(+)` can oxidise `C_(6)H_(5)CHO` to `C_(6)H_(5)COOH`, but reaction (d) indicates that `Cu^(2+)` ions are unable to do so. Hence, it may be concluded that although both `Ag^(+)` and `Cu^(2+)` act as oxidising agents, yet `Ag^(+)` is a stronger oxidising agent than `Cu^(2+)`.