Question

Mary has a sample of permanganate (MnO4-1), in which Manganese has an oxidation state of +7. She wants to reduce the Manganese, which means she needs a substance that will oxidize readily. Which of the following substances should she choose? Explain your reasoning.

Lithium solid (Li)
Silicon solid (Si)
Bromine liquid (Br2)

Answer 1

Lithium, because lithium is more active then the rest of the other elements. Also, Li has one valence electron, making it the element that can most easily lose an electron out of the three stated. It can easily lose 1 electron, meaning it can oxidize readily.