Question

Is Chlorine a Reducing Agent?

Answer 1

Oxidizing Agent: An oxidizing agent, or oxidant, gains electrons and is reduced in a chemical reaction. It is also known as an electron acceptor and is in one of its higher potential oxidation states as it will gain electrons and be reduced.

Reducing Agent: A reducing agent, or reductant, loses electrons and gets oxidized in a chemical reaction. For example, earth metals, formic acid and sulfite compounds.

Chlorine: Chlorine is a chemical element with the symbol Cl and atomic number 17.

• Halogen is the second lightest element and appears between fluorine and bromine in the periodic table.
• Chlorine is a yellowish-green gas at room temperature.
• Cl is a Chlorine atom with 17 electrons which have 2,8,7 as electronic configuration.
• Therefore, chlorine has a vacancy for 1 electron.
• Chlorine needs an electron in its valence shell to occupy a vacant position hence it is an oxidizing agent.
• Chlorine is able to take electrons from both the iodide and bromide ions.
• Chlorine is a more powerful oxidizing agent than bromine or iodine because those electrons will not be reclaimed by bromine and iodine from the chloride ions produced.
• Hence, Chlorine is not a reducing agent.