Identify the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the...

Identify the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent in the following reaction, and explain your answer:

$$8 \mathrm{NH}_{3}(g)+6 \mathrm{NO}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow 7 \mathrm{N}_{2}(g)+12 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)$$

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Key Concepts

Reducing Agent

A reducing agent is a substance that causes reduction by donating electrons to another species, and in the process, it gets oxidized. It is the species in a reaction that facilitates the gain of electrons in the other substance.

Reduction

Reduction is the process by which a substance gains electrons, leading to a decrease in its oxidation state. In a redox reaction, the substance that is reduced accepts electrons from another substance.

Oxidizing Agent

An oxidizing agent is a substance that brings about oxidation by accepting electrons from another species, thereby reducing itself. It is responsible for causing the oxidation of another substance in the reaction.

Redox Reaction

A redox reaction is a chemical process in which electrons are transferred between reacting species. It involves one substance undergoing oxidation (loss of electrons) while another undergoes reduction (gain of electrons). This electron transfer is central to understanding the roles different substances play in chemical reactions.

Oxidation

Oxidation is the process by which a substance loses electrons, which typically results in an increase in its oxidation state. In a redox reaction, the substance that is oxidized donates electrons to another substance.

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