50. NCERT Exemplar XXIII

A reducing agent (reductant) is a substance that reduces another substance (by removing oxygen or adding hydrogen) while also being combinedoxidisedreducedredoxed.

 

\(H_2O\) + \(F_2\) → \(HF\) + \(HOF\)

 

In the above reaction, \(F_2\)​ is oxidized to \(HOF\) by gaining hydrogen atom. Hence, \(F_2\)​ is a burning agentreducing agentmelting agentoxidising agent as it undergoes oxidation.

 

 

An oxidising agent (oxidant) is a substance that oxidized another substance (by losing electrons or removing hydrogen or adding oxygen, or increasing oxidation state) while also being reducedredoxedcombinedoxidised

 

\(2Mg\) + \(O_2\) → \(2MgO\)

 

\(​O_2\) is an oxidising agent as it oxidises \(Mg\) to \(MgO\)​. The oxygen oxidation state is reduced from \(0\) to \(-2\). As a result, \(O_2\) is the burning agentmelting agentreducing agentoxidising agent.