Question

What describes the change in oxidation states of the following reaction?

mc027-1.jpg
Cl– reduces to Cl and F oxidizes to F–.
Cl– oxidizes to Cl and F reduces to F–.
Cl– is the reducing agent and F is the oxidizing agent.
Cl is the reducing agent and F– is the oxidizing agent.

Answer 1

Cl− is oxidized to Cl2 (−1 → 0) and F2 is reduced to F− (0 → −1). Thus Cl− is the reducing agent and F2 (F) is the oxidizing agent.