Which compound acts as an oxidising as well as reducing agent
Which compound acts as an oxidising as well as reducing agent
$\mathrm{SO}_{2}$
$\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{SO}_{4}$
$\mathrm{Al}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{3}$
$\mathrm{K}_{2} \mathrm{Cr}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{7}$
Solution
The minimum and maximum oxidation number of $\mathrm{S}$ are $-2$ and $+6$ respectively. Since the oxidation number of $\mathrm{S}$ in $\mathrm{SO}_{2}$ is $+4$, therefore it can be either increased or decreased. Therefore $\mathrm{SO}_{2}$ behaves both as an oxidising as well as reducing agent.