Question

Give reasons why:

Metals are reducing agents and non-metals are oxidizing agents.

Answer 1

Metals are reducing agents $(R.A)$ and non-metals are oxidizing agents$(O.A)$:

• Reducing agents have the tendency to lose electrons whereas the oxidizing agents have the tendency to accept electrons.
• The metals are electropositive in nature that is they lose electrons to form electropositive ions, known as cations. They have $1,2,or, 3$ valence electrons.
• While the non-metals are electronegative in nature i.e., they accept electrons. They have $5,\text{6},or, 7$ valence electrons.

Therefore, the metal atoms act as reducing agent as they lose valence electrons, and the non-metals act as oxidizing agents due to their electron accepting nature.