Question

Identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent in the following reaction:

${\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}+{\mathrm{Cl}}_2\to 2\mathrm{HCl}+\mathrm{S}$

Answer 1

Oxidizing agent:

The chemical reactant that causes oxidation of the other reactant in a chemical reaction and itself undergoes reduction is called an oxidizing agent.

Reducing agent:

The chemical reactant that causes the reduction of the other reactant in a chemical reaction and itself undergoes oxidation is called a reducing agent.

In the above chemical reaction:

1. Hydrogen is getting added to the chlorine from hydrogen sulphide(H₂S) which means a reduction of chlorine is taking place and hydrogen sulphide is getting oxidized. This shows that chlorine $\left({\mathrm{Cl}}_2\right)$ is an oxidizing agent.
2. Hydrogen gets removed from hydrogen sulphide and added to chlorine which means oxidation of hydrogen sulphide is taking place and chlorine is getting reduced. This shows that hydrogen sulphide $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{S}\right)$ is a reducing agent.

Thus, Chlorine and hydrogen sulphide are oxidizing and reducing agents.