Which of the following cannot function as an oxidising agent?
- SO42-
- MnO4-
- N3-
- BrO3-
Answer
(3) N3-
Solution
An oxidising agent must be able to accept electrons (its oxidation number must be able to decrease).
(A): S is +6 ⇒ can be reduced
(B): Mn is +7 ⇒ can be reduced
(C): N is −3, the lowest oxidation state of N ⇒ cannot be reduced ⇒ cannot act as an oxidising agent
(D): Br is +5 ⇒ can be reduced
Answer: (3)