Question

How Do You Identify A Reducing Agent?

Answer 1

To identify the reducing agent:

• The redox reaction is a reaction in which transfer of electron, which lead to change oxidation state. Here, $$\text{Zn}+\text{S}\to \text{ZnS}$$ is a redox reaction. The transfer of electron between the reacting species takes place. The Half reaction of this reaction is written as

$$\begin{array}{rl}& \text{Oxidation:}\text{Zn}\to {\text{Zn}}^{2+}+2{\text{e}}^{-}\\ & \text{Reduction:}\text{S}+2{\text{e}}^{-}\to {\text{S}}^{2-}\end{array}$$

• In the reaction, Zinc is oxidized as it is losing electrons whereas Sulfur is accepting the electron. Zinc undergoes oxidization because of sulfur. So Sulfur is an oxidizing agent. Zinc is a reducing agent as Sulfur is accepting the electrons due to zinc. The reacting species due to which oxidation takes place are known as reducing agents

Thus, the species which helps in oxidation are reducing agents.