Q93P - Chemistry: Molecular Nature Of Matter And Change

Question

Bismuth(V) compounds are such powerful oxidizing agents that they have not been prepared in pure form. How is this fact consistent with the location of Bi in the periodic table?

Step-by-Step Solution

Answer

Bismuth acts as an oxidizing agent as it accepts electrons in the pentavalent state and reduces itself.

Oxidizing agent

Simply we can say that a reagent or compound which reduce itself and oxidizes other in a redox reaction is called an oxidizing reagent.

An oxidizing agent is also called an oxidizer or oxidant, the chemical species which oxidizes others. Oxidizing agents act as electron acceptors.

Bismuth as an oxidizing agent

In group 15, as we move downward tendency of an element living in a +3 oxidation state increases while its tendency in a +5 oxidation state decreases due to the inert pair effect. So we can say that the pentavalent state can easily accept two electrons and thus get reduced to the trivalent state. So bismuth acts as an oxidizing agent as it accepts electrons in the pentavalent state and reduces itself.

${\text{Bi}}^{\text{ + 5}}{\text{ + 2e}}^{\text{ - }}\to {\text{Bi}}^{\text{ + 3}}$

Hence bismuth act as an oxidizing agent.