Question

In aqueous media, which is a stronger reducing agent — Cr³⁺ or Fe³⁺ and why?

Hint:

The strength of a reducing agent is determined by how easily it can lose electrons. Cr³⁺ is more readily reduced to Cr²⁺, making it a stronger reducing agent compared to Fe³⁺.

Answer 1

Chromium(III) (Cr³⁺) acts as a stronger reducing agent compared to Iron(III) (Fe³⁺). This is due to Cr³⁺'s greater ease of reduction to the relatively stable Cr²⁺ state. Conversely, Fe³⁺ exhibits greater stability in its +3 oxidation state, making its reduction to Fe²⁺ less favorable.