Nascent Hydrogen

Q - 2)   What is nascent hydrogen? Describe its reactivity:

Nascent Hydrogen: 

                        Hydrogen at a time of its birth is chemically more reactive than molecular hydrogen because it is available in atomic form and known as Nascent Hydrogen or Newly born hydrogen.

Reactivity:

                        When a piece of Zn metal adds in the acidic Ferric chloride (FeCl₃) solution, nascent hydrogen is generated which reduces FeCl₃ into ferrous chloride (FeCl₂) which is greenish in colour.

FeCl3(aq) + H2(g)			No reaction ­
		Zn/HCl
FeCl3(aq) +  [H]			FeCl2(aq) + HCl(aq)
	Nascent Hydrogen		Ferrous Chloride

Acidic KMnO₄ (pink) solution can be reduced by nascent hydrogen to colourless solution.

	Nascent Hydrogen	Zn/H2SO4­
2KMnO44(aq) +  3H2SO4 + 10[H]			K2SO4(aq) + 2MnSO4(aq) +8H2O