Which substance is the oxidizing agent in this reaction?
Understanding Oxidizing and Reducing Agents in Chemical Reactions
Chemical reactions involve the exchange of electrons between different substances. In some reactions, certain substances gain electrons (reduction) while others lose electrons (oxidation). The substances that gain electrons are called reducing agents, and the substances that lose electrons are known as oxidizing agents.
Let's take a look at the reaction Cl2(aq) + 2Br-(aq) → 2Cl-(aq) + Br2(aq).
In this reaction, we examine the charge of each substance involved:
- Cl2 has a charge of 0 before the reaction and becomes -1 after gaining an electron.
- Br- has a charge of -1 before the reaction and becomes 0 after losing an electron.
The substance that loses electrons is the oxidized substance, while the substance that gains electrons is the reduced substance.
Therefore, in this reaction, Cl2 is the oxidizing agent as it causes the oxidation of Br-, which is the reducing agent.
What best describes the oxidizing agent in the given reaction?
Answer: Bromine (Br) loses an electron, so it is the reducing agent. Explanation: Cl2 gains an electron, making it the oxidizing agent in this reaction.