Why HCl not used to make the mdeium acidic in oxidation reactions of `KMnO_(4)` in acidic medium ?

Options

A. Both HCl and `KMnO_4` act as oxidising agents
B. `KMnO_4` oxidises HCl into `Cl_2` which is also an oxidising agent
C. `KMnO_4` is a weaker oxidising agent than HCl
D. `KMnO_4` acts as a reducing agent in the presence of HCl

Answer

B

Explanation

HCl is not used to make the medium acidic in oxidation reactions of `KMnO_4` in acidic medium. The reason is that if HCl is used, the oxygen produced from `KMnO_4 + HCl` is partly utilised in oxidising HCl to , Cl which itself acts as an oxidising agent and partly oxidises the reducing agent.