Question

Identify the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the reaction below?

Answer 1

Iodine is oxidizing agent
Bromine is the reducing agent

Explanation:

Iodine has gone from a charge of +5 to a charge of zero. This means that Iodine has gained 5 electrons.

Oxidizing agents such as Oxygen take electrons and become more negative ( or in this case less positive)

Bromine has gone from a charge of zero to a charge of + 5. Bromine has lost 5 electrons. Bromine has reduced the charge on Iodine making the charge lower ( from +5 to zero down 5)

Reducing agents give negative electrons to other atoms or complex ions causing the charge on the other atom to become more negative ( or in this case less positive)