Answer the following questions about the Frost diagram below. a. Which of the ca
ID: 1020756 • Letter: A
Question
Answer the following questions about the Frost diagram below. a. Which of the carbon species (the red line) is most stable, according to this diagram? b. What is the redox potential at which CH_3OH (methanol) is converted to CO_2 under these conditions? Further, explain whether methanol is a good oxidant or a good reductant. c. What is the redox potential at which O_2 is converted to H_2O under these conditions? Further, explain whether oxygen gas is a good oxidant or a good reductant (I mean, apart from the obvious reason of its name). d. Will the coupled reaction between methanol's conversion to carbon dioxide, and oxygen gas's conversion to water be spontaneous? Show a calculation to support your answer.Explanation / Answer
a) According to the frost diagram, CO2 is very stable with least potential of -2V.
b) In frost diagrams gradient between two points gives redox potential to change from one state to another.. To convert methanol to CO2 gradient is (-1.9-0.1)/(4-(-2)) = -0.33V.
c) The redox potential of O2 to get converted to H2O = (-3.2-0)/(-4-0) = 0.8V .
O2 is an oxidant because it reduces to oxidize others hence +ve redox poential.
d) Yes, the coupled reaction between methanol's conversion to CO2 and O2 gas conversion to H2O is spontaneous as net redox potential = 0.8-0.33 = 0.47V >0.