Question

Be sure to answer all parts. For the complete redox reactions given here, write the half-reactions and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents. Make sure your answer has the simplest coefficients. Part 1 out of 4 (a) 4Fe + 3O2 → 2Fe2O3 Select the oxidizing agent:

Answer 1

Answer : $O_2$ is the oxidizing agent and Fe is the reducing agent.

Explanation :

Reducing agent : It is defined as the agent which helps the other substance to reduce and itself gets oxidized. Thus, it will undergo oxidation reaction.

Oxidizing agent : It is defined as the agent which helps the other substance to oxidize and itself gets reduced. Thus, it will undergo reduction reaction.

The balanced redox reaction is :

$4Fe+3O_2\rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3$

The half oxidation-reduction reactions are:

Oxidation reaction : $Fe\rightarrow Fe^{3+}+3e^-$

Reduction reaction : $O_2+4e^-\rightarrow 2O^{2-}$

In order to balance the electrons, we multiply the oxidation reaction by 4 and reduction reaction by 3 then added both equation, we get the balanced redox reaction.

Oxidation reaction : $4Fe\rightarrow 4Fe^{3+}+12e^-$

Reduction reaction : $3O_2+12e^-\rightarrow 6O^{2-}$

$4Fe+3O_2\rightarrow 2Fe_2O_3$

In this reaction, $'Fe'$ is the reducing agent that loses an electron to another chemical species in a redox chemical reaction and itself gets oxidized and $'O_2'$ is the oxidizing agent that gain an electron to another chemical species in a redox chemical reaction and itself gets reduced.

Thus, $O_2$ is the oxidizing agent and Fe is the reducing agent.