Justify that the following reactions are redox reactions:

Fe2O3(s) + 3CO(g) 2Fe(s) + 3CO2(g)


Let us write the oxidation number of each element involved in the given reaction as:


In Fe2O3, Fe = + 3 and O = -2


In CO, C = + 2 and O = -2


In CO2, C = + 4 and O = -2


In Fe, Fe = 0


Here, the O.N. of Fe decreases from + 3 in Fe2O3to 0 in Fe i.e. Fe2O3 is reduced to Fe. On the other hand, the O.N. of C increases from + 2 in CO to + 4 in CO2. Hence, the given reaction is a redox reaction.


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