In the chemical equation `ZnO +C to Zn + CO`
'C'acts as a/an

Options

A. oxidising agent
B. reducing agent
C. dehydrating agent
D. hydrating agent

Answer

To determine the role of carbon (C) in the chemical equation `ZnO + C → Zn + CO`, we can analyze the reaction step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactants and Products**:
- The reactants are Zinc Oxide (ZnO) and Carbon (C).
- The products are Zinc (Zn) and Carbon Monoxide (CO).

2. **Understand the Reaction**:
- In this reaction, Zinc Oxide is being converted into Zinc and Carbon Monoxide.
- This indicates a chemical change where one substance is transformed into another.

3. **Analyze the Changes in Oxidation States**:
- Zinc in ZnO has an oxidation state of +2.
- In the product Zn, the oxidation state of Zinc is 0.
- Therefore, Zinc is being reduced from +2 to 0, which means it is gaining electrons.

4. **Role of Carbon**:
- Carbon (C) is being used to reduce Zinc Oxide to Zinc.
- Since Zinc Oxide loses oxygen (which is being removed), we can infer that Carbon is facilitating this reduction process.

5. **Definition of Reducing Agent**:
- A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons to another substance, causing the reduction of that substance while itself being oxidized in the process.
- In this case, Carbon donates electrons to Zinc Oxide, reducing it to Zinc.

6. **Conclusion**:
- Therefore, in the reaction `ZnO + C → Zn + CO`, Carbon acts as a reducing agent.

### Final Answer:
Carbon (C) acts as a **reducing agent** in the chemical equation `ZnO + C → Zn + CO`.

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