Step 1: The oxidizing agent our bodies use to obtain energy from food is oxygen

Question

Step 1: The oxidizing agent our bodies use to obtain energy from food is oxygen (from the air). If you breathe 15 times a minute (at rest), taking in and exhaling 0.5 L of air with each breath, what volume of air do you breathe each day? Air is 21% oxygen by volume. What volume of oxygen do you breathe each day?

Step 2: As a rule, metallic elements act as reducing agents, not as oxidizing agents. Explain. (Hint: Consider the charges on metal ions.) Do nonmetals act only as oxidizing agents and not as reducing agents? Explain your answer.

Explanation / Answer

1)Volume of air per breath =0.5 L

Number of breaths per minutes=15

Volume of air per inhaled per minute=15*0.5 =7.5L

Volume of air inhaled per day =7.5*60*24=10800 liter

Since air contains 21% oxygen, volume of air inhaled per day =10800*0.21=2268 liters

2) Metals have a tendacy to loose electrons (elctrons donors)

For example sodium losses electrons to become Na+

NaOH+ HCl----> NaCl+ H2O

In this reaction

NaOH---->Na++OH-

suggesting Sodium metal to be reducing

During oxidationm of non metals, the non metal is reduced to monoatomic anion

for example

Si-->SiH4

andAs---->ASH3

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