In the following chemical reaction "zinc oxide reacts with carbon to produce zinc metal and carbon monoxide.
`ZnO+C rarrZn + CO`
Which of these substances is getting oxidized ?

Options

A. C is getting oxidized to CO
B. ZnO is getting oxidised to Zn
C. No substance is getting oxidised
D. CO is getting oxidised

Answer

To determine which substance is getting oxidized in the reaction \( \text{ZnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Zn} + \text{CO} \), we will follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the oxidation states of the elements in the reactants and products.

- **Zinc oxide (ZnO)**:
- Zinc (Zn) has an oxidation state of +2.
- Oxygen (O) has an oxidation state of -2.

- **Carbon (C)** in its elemental form has an oxidation state of 0.

- **Zinc (Zn)** in its elemental form also has an oxidation state of 0.

- **Carbon monoxide (CO)**:
- Carbon (C) in CO has an oxidation state of +2.
- Oxygen (O) has an oxidation state of -2.

### Step 2: Write down the oxidation states before and after the reaction.

- **Before the reaction**:
- Zn in ZnO: +2
- O in ZnO: -2
- C: 0

- **After the reaction**:
- Zn: 0
- CO: C: +2, O: -2

### Step 3: Determine the changes in oxidation states.

- **Zinc (Zn)**: Changes from +2 (in ZnO) to 0 (elemental Zn) - this is a reduction.
- **Carbon (C)**: Changes from 0 (elemental C) to +2 (in CO) - this is an oxidation.

### Step 4: Conclusion

Since the oxidation state of carbon increases from 0 to +2, we conclude that carbon is the substance that is getting oxidized in this reaction.

### Final Answer:
**Carbon (C) is getting oxidized.**

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