Balance the following skeleton reaction and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents: Include the states of all reactants and products in your balanced equation. You do not need to include the states with the identities of the oxidizing and reducing agents. NO_2(g) rightarrow NO_3^-(aq) +NO_2^- (aq) [basic]
The oxidizing agent is:.
The reducing agent is:.

a. 2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + H₂O (l)

b. i. NO₂⁻ is the oxidizing agent

ii. NO₃⁻ is the reducing agent.

Explanation:

a. Balance the following skeleton reaction

The reaction is

NO₂ (g) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻ (aq)

The half reactions are

NO₂ (g) → NO₃⁻ (aq)  (1) and

NO₂ (g) → NO₂⁻  (aq) (2)

We balance the number of oxygen atoms in equation(1) by adding one H₂O molecule to the left side.

So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq)

We now add two hydrogen ions 2H⁺ on the right hand side to balance the number of hydrogen atoms

NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq)

The charge on the left hand side is zero while the total charge on the right hand side is -1 + 2 = +1. To balance the charge on both sides, we add one electron to the right hand side.

So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻  (4)

Since the number of atoms in equation two are balanced, we balance the charge since the charge on the left hand side is zero and that on the right hand side is -1. So, we add one electron to the left hand side.

So, NO₂ (g) + e⁻ → NO₂⁻  (aq) (5)

We now add equation (4) and (5)

So, NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻  (4)

+  NO₂ (g) + e⁻ → NO₂⁻  (aq) (5)

2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + e⁻ → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + e⁻  (4)

2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)  → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq)  

We now add two hydroxide ions to both sides of the equation.

So, 2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + 2H⁺ (aq) + 2OH⁻ (aq)

The hydrogen ion and the hydroxide ion become a water molecule

2NO₂ (g) + H₂O (l) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + 2H₂O (l)

2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + H₂O (l)

So, the required reaction is

2NO₂ (g) + 2OH⁻ (aq) → NO₃⁻ (aq) + NO₂⁻  (aq) + H₂O (l)

b. Identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent

Since the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₂ is -2. Since the oxidation number of NO₂ is zero, we let x be the oxidation number of N.

So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = 0

x + 2(-2) = 0

x - 4 = 0

x = 4

Since the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₂⁻ is -1. Since the oxidation number of NO₂⁻ is -1, we let x be the oxidation number of N.

So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = 0

x + 2(-2) = -1

x - 4 = -1

x = 4 - 1

x = 3

Also, the oxidation number of oxygen in NO₃⁻ is -1. Since the oxidation number of NO₃⁻ is -1, we let x be the oxidation number of N.

So, x + 2 × (oxidation number of oxygen) = -1

x + 3(-2) = -1

x - 6 = -1

x = 6 - 1

x = 5

i. The oxidizing agent

The oxidation number of N changes from +4 in NO₂ to +3 in NO₂⁻. So, Nitrogen is reduced and thus  NO₂⁻ is the oxidizing agent

ii. The reducing agent

The oxidation number of N changes from +4 in NO₂ to +5 in NO₃⁻. So, Nitrogen is oxidized and thus and  NO₃⁻ is the reducing agent.

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