What is oxidized when chlorine reacts with sodium metal to give sodium chloride?

Question

2300 views around the world

You can reuse this answer
Creative Commons License

Answer 1 · 2017-07-21T19:36:57

Well, we gots $chloride anion$ $"chloride anion"$ , $C l^{-}$ $Cl^-$ .......

Given the formation reaction, sodium metal is oxidized...

$N a (s) \to N a^{+} + e^{-}$ $Na(s) rarr Na^(+) + e^(-)$

And chlorine gas is reduced.......

$\frac{1}{2} C l_{2} + e^{-} \to C l^{-}$ $1/2Cl_2+e^(-) rarr Cl^-$

And we add the equations......

$N a (s) + \frac{1}{2} C l_{2} (g) \to N a C l (s)$ $Na(s) + 1/2Cl_2(g) rarrNaCl(s)$

And which element is the $oxidizing agent$ $"oxidizing agent"$ , and which is the $reducing agent$ $"reducing agent"$ ?