(a) Ranjana wants to prove that ammonia is a reducing agent. To demonstrate this, she passes ammonia gas over heated copper oxide. What will she observe?

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the above reaction.

Question

(a) Ranjana wants to prove that ammonia is a reducing agent. To demonstrate this, she passes ammonia gas over heated copper oxide. What will she observe?

(b) Write a balanced chemical equation for the above reaction.

Accepted Answer

(a) The black copper oxide (CuO) will change to reddish-brown copper metal (Cu).
Reason — On passing ammonia gas over heated copper oxide, Ammonia acts as a reducing agent and reduces copper oxide (CuO) to copper metal (Cu). During this process, ammonia is oxidized to nitrogen gas and water.

(b) 3CuO + 2NH₃ ⟶ 3Cu + 3H₂O +N₂↑

(a) Ranjana wants to prove that ammonia is a reducing agent. To demonstrate this, she passes ammonia gas over heated copper oxide. What will she observe?

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