Question 16.2: Identifying Oxidizing and Reducing Agents Identify the oxidi......
Identifying Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
Identify the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in each reaction.
(a) 2\,{\mathrm{Mg}}(s)+\mathrm{O_{2}(g)}\longrightarrow\,2\,{\mathrm{Mg}}\mathrm{O}(s)
(b) \mathrm{Fe(s)}+\mathrm{Cl_{2}(g)}\longrightarrow\mathrm{FeCl}_{2}(s)
(c) \mathrm{Zn}(s)+\mathrm{Fe}^{2+}(a q)\longrightarrow\mathrm{Zn}^{2{+}}(a q)+\mathrm{Fe}(s)
In the previous example, we identified the substances being oxidized and reduced for these reactions. Recall that the substance being oxidized is the reducing agent, and the substance being reduced is the oxidizing agent.
(a) Mg is oxidized and is therefore the reducing agent; {\mathrm{O}}_{2} is reduced and is therefore the oxidizing agent.
(b) Fe is oxidized and is therefore the reducing agent; {\mathrm{Cl}}_{2} is reduced and is therefore the oxidizing agent.
(c) Zn is oxidized and is therefore the reducing agent; \mathrm{Fe}^{2+} is reduced and is therefore the oxidizing agent.