Sulphur dioxide is a reducing agent but tellurium dioxide is an oxidizing agent, why ?

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Sulphur dioxide is a reducing agent but tellurium dioxide is an oxidizing agent, why? 

1 Answer

  1. Answer:

    Oxidation no. of sulfur changes from 0 to +4 in SO2. Due to the presence of d-orbitals(vacant), sulfur can extend its covalency & show oxidation states till +6, which is stable in sulfur (eg: SF6).

    Hence it acts as a reducing agent. (PS it acts as both oxidizing and reducing agent)

    Oxidation no. of Te changes from 0 to +4 in TeO2. Unlike sulfur, Te cannot show a +6 oxidation state as it is highly unstable due to the inert pair effect. Therefore there can only be a decrease in its oxidation state (it can decrease to -2, +2). Also, TeO2 is a polymeric oxide that is not very stable.

    Hence it acts as an oxidizing agent.

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