Question

In the reaction 2Na + Cl2 --> 2NaCl Would 2Na be the Reducing Agent, or would the reducing agent just be Na?

Answer 1

Just `Na`.

Explanation:

We have the balanced equation:

`2Na(s)+Cl_2(g)->2NaCl(s)`

`Na(0)` gets oxidized to `Na(I)`, while `Cl(0)` gets reduced to `Cl(-I)`.

Since sodium got oxidized, it is the reducing agent in this equation.

It doesn't matter if there was one sodium or three sodium atoms, the reducing agent is just the element or molecule itself, so `Na` will be the reducing agent here.