What happens to an oxidizing agent during a redox reactions?
1 Answer
The oxidizing reagent is FORMALLY reduced.......
Explanation:
Redox reactions are conceived to occur on the basis of CONCEPTUAL electron transfer, and typically we write out separate redox processes.........
For oxidation of methane we could write...........
And for every oxidation, there must be a corresponding reduction; here of dioxygen gas to water..........
And this is the FORMAL reduction reaction. Oxygen decreases in oxidation number, and it has FORMALLY GAINED electrons.....
And add the two half equation together.......so that we eliminate the electrons:
Of course, I am making a meal of it here; I could simply follow the usual rigmarole and (i) balance the carbons, (ii) balance the hydrogens as water, and (iii) balance the oxygens.
