Which statement describes an oxidizing agent?

Which statement describes an oxidizing agent?

• A. Donates electrons
• B. Accepts electrons
• C. Is unchanged during the reaction
• D. Is always positively charged

Answer: (B)

In redox chemistry, the oxidizing agent is the substance that accepts electrons from another species and is reduced itself. That’s why the correct idea is that it accepts electrons. For example, oxygen gas takes electrons from a fuel and becomes reduced to water, while the fuel is oxidized. Donating electrons describes the reducing agent, not the oxidizing agent. If a species remains unchanged, it isn’t participating in the redox process. And being always positively charged isn’t correct, since oxidizing agents can be neutral or negatively charged depending on the specific species.

In redox chemistry, the oxidizing agent is the substance that accepts electrons from another species and is reduced itself. That’s why the correct idea is that it accepts electrons. For example, oxygen gas takes electrons from a fuel and becomes reduced to water, while the fuel is oxidized.

Donating electrons describes the reducing agent, not the oxidizing agent. If a species remains unchanged, it isn’t participating in the redox process. And being always positively charged isn’t correct, since oxidizing agents can be neutral or negatively charged depending on the specific species.