Unlocking the Power of Reducing Agents: Sodium Borohydride as a Producer of Reactive Nascent Hydrogen in Water

acid

a chemical compound that, when dissolved in water, produces hydrogen that is missing its electron

The chemical compound that produces hydrogen when dissolved in water and the hydrogen is missing its electron is called a reducing agent. A reducing agent causes a reduction reaction by donating electrons to another chemical species, thereby reducing it.

One example of a reducing agent that produces hydrogen in water is sodium borohydride (NaBH4). When NaBH4 is dissolved in water, it reacts with water to produce hydrogen gas (H2) and borate ion (BO3^-3) as follows:

NaBH4 + 2H2O –> 4H2 + NaBO3

In this reaction, the NaBH4 acts as a reducing agent by donating electrons to water to produce hydrogen gas and borate ion. The hydrogen gas produced is missing an electron, which makes it a reactive hydrogen species commonly referred to as “nascent hydrogen”.

Nascent hydrogen is highly reactive and can be used for various chemical reactions such as reduction of metal ions, synthesis of organic compounds, and hydrogenation of unsaturated compounds. It is important to handle nascent hydrogen with caution as it can easily ignite and cause explosions due to its high reactivity.

More Answers:

Unlocking the Power of Electrodes: How Choosing the Right Materials Affects Battery Performance
Unraveling the Complexities of Chemical Changes: Key Characteristics That Shape a Substance’s Reactivity

Error 403 The request cannot be completed because you have exceeded your quota. : quotaExceeded

Share:

Recent Posts

Mathematics in Cancer Treatment

How Mathematics is Transforming Cancer Treatment Mathematics plays an increasingly vital role in the fight against cancer mesothelioma. From optimizing drug delivery systems to personalizing

Read More »