Question

Mention the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent $\mathrm{Mg}+2\mathrm{HCl}\to {\mathrm{MgCl}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2$and give a reason in support of your answer.

Answer 1

Redox reaction

A chemical reaction in which loss and gain of electrons take place simultaneously is called a redox reaction

Oxidising agent

In the redox reaction, the atom or the ion that gains electrons is called an oxidizing agent.

Reducing agent

In the redox reaction, the atom or the ion that loses an electron is called the reducing agent.

$\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+2\mathrm{HCl}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{MgCl}}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$

In this reaction, Mg loses two electrons and becomes Mg²⁺. Magnesium gets oxidised and acts as a reducing agent. Hydrogen gains two electrons and acts as an oxidising agent.

Mg - Reducing agent

HCl - Oxidizing agent