What is oxidized when chlorine reacts with sodium metal to give sodium chloride?

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Answer 1 · 2017-07-21T19:36:57

Well, we gots #"chloride anion"#, #Cl^-#.......

Given the formation reaction, sodium metal is oxidized...

#Na(s) rarr Na^(+) + e^(-)#

And chlorine gas is reduced.......

#1/2Cl_2+e^(-) rarr Cl^-#

And we add the equations......

#Na(s) + 1/2Cl_2(g) rarrNaCl(s)#

And which element is the #"oxidizing agent"#, and which is the #"reducing agent"#?