In `C+H_(2)OtoCO+H_(2),H_(2)O` acts as

Options

A. Oxidising agent
B. Reducing agent
C. Both a and b
D. None of these

Answer

To determine the role of water (H₂O) in the reaction \( C + H_2O \rightarrow CO + H_2 \), we need to analyze the oxidation states of the elements involved in the reaction.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Reactants and Products**:
- Reactants: Carbon (C) and Water (H₂O)
- Products: Carbon monoxide (CO) and Hydrogen gas (H₂)

2. **Assign Oxidation States**:
- In water (H₂O), the oxidation state of hydrogen (H) is +1 and that of oxygen (O) is -2.
- In the product hydrogen gas (H₂), the oxidation state of hydrogen is 0 (since it is in its elemental form).
- In carbon monoxide (CO), the oxidation state of carbon (C) is +2 (since O is -2).

3. **Determine Changes in Oxidation States**:
- For hydrogen:
- In H₂O, H is +1, and in H₂, H is 0.
- This indicates a decrease in oxidation state (from +1 to 0), which means hydrogen is being reduced.
- For carbon:
- C goes from 0 (in elemental form) to +2 in CO, indicating an increase in oxidation state, which means carbon is being oxidized.

4. **Identify the Reducing and Oxidizing Agents**:
- Since hydrogen is being reduced (decrease in oxidation state), H₂O is acting as the source of hydrogen.
- The substance that gets reduced is known as the oxidizing agent. Therefore, H₂O, which provides the hydrogen that is reduced, acts as the oxidizing agent in this reaction.

5. **Conclusion**:
- In the reaction \( C + H_2O \rightarrow CO + H_2 \), water (H₂O) acts as an oxidizing agent.