JEE MainChemistryRedox Reactions
When molecular iodine ( I ₂ ) reacts with hot and concentrated aqueous NaOH , it undergoes a disproportionation reaction. In the balanced chemical equation for this reaction (with the simplest whole number coefficients), what is the ratio of the stoichiometric coefficient of the oxidized product to that of the reduced product?
Options
- A5 : 1
- B1 : 1
- C1 : 5
- D1 : 2
Correct answer
C. 1 : 5
Step-by-step solution
Molecular iodine reacts with hot and concentrated NaOH to give sodium iodate ( NaIO ₃ ) and sodium iodide ( NaI ). This is a disproportionation reaction where iodine is both oxidized and reduced. The unbalanced ionic equation is: I ₂ + OH ^- IO ₃^- + I ^- + H ₂ O Oxidation half-reaction: I ₂ 2 IO ₃^- + 10 e ^- Reduction half-reaction: I ₂ + 2 e ^- 2 I ^- To balance the electrons, multiply the reduction half-reaction by 5: 5 I ₂ + 10 e ^- 10 I ^- Adding the two half-reactions gives: 6 I ₂ 2 IO ₃^- + 10 I ^- Simplify