Answer:
it gains 2 electrons
Explanation:
atoms want to be more stable, for oxygen it's number is 8, 2 less than the stable ring of 10. and hydrogen has a single electron, 1 less than the stable ring of 2. so oxygen takes 2 electrons 2 make it stable and hydrogen becomes attatched to the oxygen atom to form a covalent bond
Answer: A single oxygen atom is gaining 2 electrons in the given reaction.
Explanation:
Oxidation reaction is defined as the chemical reaction in which an atom looses its electrons. The oxidation number of the atom gets increased during this reaction.
[tex]X\rightarrow X^{n+}+ne^-[/tex]
Reduction reaction is defined as the chemical reaction in which an atom gains electrons. The oxidation number of the atom gets reduced during this reaction.
[tex]X^{n+}+ne^-\rightarrow X[/tex]
For the given chemical reaction:
[tex]H_2+\frac{1}{2}O_2\rightarrow H_2O[/tex]
The half cell reactions for the above reaction follows:
Oxidation half reaction: [tex]H_2\rightarrow 2H^{+}+2e^-[/tex]
Reduction half reaction: [tex]\frac{1}{2}O_2+2e^-\rightarrow O^{2-}[/tex]
As, hydrogen is loosing 2 electrons to form hydrogen cation. Thus, it is getting oxidized. Oxygen is gaining 2 electrons to form oxygen anion. Thus, it is getting reduced.
Hence, a single oxygen atom is gaining 2 electrons in the given reaction.
