EK Chem #861

[sakabato93]

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This question states that in a redox reaction compounds will oxidize and reduce (i.e. act as oxidant and reductant) while atoms are oxidized and reduced.

Is this true? In order to be an oxidant/reductant, does the species have to be a compound? Can atoms not act as oxidizing or reducing species?

 

[monkeyvokes]

Could you post the question?

 

[FeinMS]

What's the difference between oxidant/getting reduced and reductant/getting oxidized? Aren't they the same thing?

 

[monkeyvokes]

the oxidizing agent gets reduced while simultaneously the reducing agent gets oxidized.

the oxidizing agent gets reduced by the reducing agent.
the reducing agent gets oxidized by the oxidizing agent.

 

[sakabato93]

EK is claiming that oxidizing/reducing agents are compounds, they cannot be free elements while the species that are oxidized/reduced are elements themselves. My question is whether or not the latter is true. Can't free elements act as oxidizing reducing species? Isn't that what happens in galvanic cells? Solid metal in the form of a free element oxidizes (due to ions acting as oxidizing agents) at the anode and causes reduction (as a reducing agent) of free ions at the cathode while plating onto the metal slab.

 

[FeinMS]

Well, I see a question by AAMC asking for a reducing agent, and the answer is an element. N=1 but seems like EK is wrong.