In: Chemistry
What is a Jones redactor and what is it used for?
A Jones reductor is a device which can be used to reduce a metal ion in aqueous solution to a very low oxidation state. The active component is a zinc amalgam. It can be used to prepare solutions of ions, such as chromium(II), Cr2+, and uranium(III), U3+, which are immediately oxidized on contact with air.Amalgamated zinc is a powerful reducing agent, with a standard redox potential of −0.76 V. The amalgam does not have a passive layer so it is a more effective reducing agent than zinc metal. The Jones reductor is useful for preparing solutions of titanium(III), vanadium(II), chromium(II), molybdenum(III), niobium(III) and uranium(III). All these ions are extremely susceptible to oxidation. For example, the reductor can be used in the preparation of crystalline chromous acetate.This solid is moderately stable in air and is a good starting material for the preparation of other chromium(II) compounds.