I am new to the study of this divine science. So Just a query: Can an oxidising/reducing agent oxidise/reduce itself? If it can can anyone give an example and explain it?
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$\begingroup$ You were told already in your prior question. $\endgroup$– PoutnikJan 29 at 6:51
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1 Answer
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A simple example can be the disproportionation of chlorine when bubbling a current of chlorine gas $\ce{Cl2}$ into a solution of $\ce{NaOH}$ (containing $\ce{OH^-}$ ions): $$\ce{Cl2 + 2 OH^- -> ClO^- + Cl^- + H2O}$$ Here the chlorine atoms have the oxidation number equal to zero in the reactants, and get the final oxidation number $-1$ in $\ce{Cl^-}$ and $+1$ in $\ce{ClO^-}$. Here one of the $2$ original $\ce{Cl}$ atoms oxidises the other one from $0$ to $+1$. In this operation it is reduced fro $0$ to $-1$.
The final solution is the famous bleach, used for cleaning dirty surfaces.
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$\begingroup$ My answer has been downvoted. Why ? It is a perfect answer to the question as written in the title. $\endgroup$– MauriceFeb 2 at 14:26