Question

Which best describes the oxidizing agent in this reaction?

Cl2(aq) + 2Br(aq) --> 2Cl(aq) + Br2(aq)

Answer 1

The answer is C:

Chlorine (Cl) is the oxidizing agent because it gains an electron

Answer 2

The reaction is:

Cl2(aq) + 2Br-(aq) --> 2Cl-(aq) + Br2(aq)

The oxidizing agent is the one that is being reduced which is chlorine where the charge changed from neutral to -1 while the reducing agent is the one being oxidized which is bromine where the charge change from -1 to a neutral charge.