Describe the oxidizing action of potassium dichromate and write the ionic equations for its reaction with:

(i) iodide (ii) iron(II) solution and (iii) H2S

K2Cr2O7 acts as a very strong oxidizing agent in acidic medium.

K2Cr2O7 gets reduced and acts as an oxidizing agent by oxidizing Iodide to iodine


(i) K2Cr2O7 oxidizes iodide to iodine


Cr2O72-+ 14H++ 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


2I- I2 + 2e- } x3


Overall: Cr2O72-+ 14H++ 6I- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O+ 3I2


(ii) K2Cr2O7 oxidizes iron(II) to iron(III)


Cr2O72-+ 14H++ 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


Fe2+ Fe3+ + e- } x6


Overall: Cr2O72-+ 14H++ 6Fe2+ 2Cr3+ + 7H2O + 6Fe3+


(iii) K2Cr2O7 oxidized H2S to sulphur


Cr2O72-+ 14H++ 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O


H2S S + 2H+ + 2e-} x3


Overall: Cr2O72-+ 8H++ 3H2S 2Cr3+ + 7H2O +3S


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