Chapter 15, Problem 15.58AQAP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

To analyze if the elemental chlorine is oxidized or reduced during water chlorination.

Concept introduction:

Water chlorination is defined as the process in which chlorine or chlorine compounds are added to water in order to kill certain germs and bacteria which are present in water as these all are highly toxic for the content of water. When chlorine is dissolved in water, it gets converted to hypochlorous acid and Chlorine. The reaction is represented below as:

  ${\text{Cl}}_{\text{2}}{\text{+H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\underset{}{\rightleftharpoons }{\text{HOCl+H}}^{\text{+}}{\text{+Cl}}^{\text{-}}$

A reduction reaction is the one in which a species gains electron which results in decrease in oxidation state of that chemical species. On the other hand an oxidation reaction is the one in which loss of electron by a chemical species takes place which results in increase in oxidation state of the atom undergoing oxidation.