In basic medium hydrogen peroxide reduces chlorine dioxide: ClO2 + H2O2 + OH^- -> ClO2^- + O2 + H2O. The sum of all coefficients (smallest whole numbers, reactants and products) is

JEE Main levelSingle correct optionDifficulty 2 of 3rx085

In basic medium hydrogen peroxide reduces chlorine dioxide: $ClO X_{2} + H X_{2} O X_{2} + OH X^{-} ClO X_{2} X^{-} + O X_{2} + H X_{2} O$ . The sum of all coefficients (smallest whole numbers, reactants and products) is

Cl goes from +4 to +3 (gain of 1) and each O of

H X_{2} O X_{2}

goes from -1 to 0 (total loss of 2), so

ClO X_{2}

H X_{2} O X_{2}

= 2 : 1. Charge and atom balance give

2 ClO X_{2} + H X_{2} O X_{2} + 2 OH X^{-} 2 ClO X_{2} X^{-} + O X_{2} + 2 H X_{2} O

. The coefficients add up to 10.