How do you determine the oxidizing or reducing agent in a redox equation?
1 Answer
If the oxidation number increases upon reaction, the species is a reducing agent. And if the oxidation number decreases, the species is an oxidizing agent.
Explanation:
Redox transfer is formalized on the basis of loss or gain or electrons. Recall the old mnemonic:
And thus if something has been oxidized, it is A SOURCE of electrons; likewise, if something has been reduced it is an electron sink, and has ACCEPTED electron from somewhere.
We can go to a simple redox reaction; the oxidation of elemental carbon:
Zerovalent carbon has been oxidized to