See image — Alcohols Phenols and Ethers Chemistry Question

💡 Solution & Explanation

Concept: A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons (or hydrogen) to another species, thereby reducing it. In the process, the reducing agent itself gets oxidized. Reasoning: - CrO3/H+ (chromium trioxide in acidic medium): Cr is in the +6 oxidation state and acts as a strong oxidizing agent, oxidizing alcohols to ketones/carboxylic acids. It gets reduced to Cr^3+. - KMnO4 (potassium permanganate): Mn is in the +7 oxidation state and is a well-known strong oxidizing agent. It gets reduced to Mn^2+ or MnO2 depending on conditions. - LiAlH4 (lithium aluminium hydride): This is a powerful hydride-based reducing agent. It provides H^- (hydride ions) to reduce carbonyl compounds, esters, amides, etc. Al in LiAlH4 is in the +3 state but the hydride (H^-) acts as the electron/hydrogen donor. LiAlH4 itself gets oxidized as it donates hydride, making it a reducing agent. - O3 (ozone): Ozone is a strong oxidizing agent used in ozonolysis to cleave double bonds. It accepts electrons and gets reduced. Why other options fail: - CrO3/H+ is an oxidizing agent, not a reducing agent. - KMnO4 is an oxidizing agent, not a reducing agent. - O3 is an oxidizing agent, not a reducing agent. LiAlH4 is the only reducing agent among the given options because it donates hydride ions to reduce other substances while itself being oxidized. Therefore, the correct answer is C.