Question

Does water act as a reducing agent?

Answer 1

1. Water (H₂O) is a very stable molecule.
2. Due to its high stability, it does not easily lose electrons.
3. Therefore, water generally does not act as a reducing agent.
4. Other hydrides (like H₂S, H₂Se) act as reducing agents, but not water.
5. Water’s stability makes it the least likely to show reducing properties among group 16 hydrides.