Question

Choose the chemical properties of metals and non-metals with reference to electrochemical nature.
A.Both are reducing agents
B.Both are oxidizing agents
C.Metals act as reducing agents and non metals act as oxidizing agents
D.Metals act as oxidizing agents and nonmetals act as reducing agents.

Answer 1

Metals are electropositive in nature which means their tendency to give up a pair of electrons is more when compared to other elements. Nonmetals are electronegative in nature which means that they have a greater tendency to attract or gain a pair of electrons.

Complete answer:
-It is first important to understand the definition of what reduction and oxidation really is. Reduction: It is the process where an element gains or attracts electrons from another element. This is mostly seen in nonmetals that also happen to be more electronegative. In addition to that, in reduction, the oxidation number decreases with respect to sign, that is the oxidation number can be converted from 0 to negative numbers.
-A reducing agent on the other hand can be defined as the reactant in the reaction that causes the reduction of the other reactant. The reducing agent undergoes OXIDATION.
-Oxidation: it is the process by which the element loses an electron to another element. This is mostly noticed in metals which also happen to be electropositive. The oxidation number in this process undergoes an increase with increase in the loss of electrons. That means for every electron that is lost the oxidation number can change from 0 to positive numbers or for example -4 to -1.
-The oxidizing agent can be defined as the reactant in the reaction that causes oxidation in the other reactant. The oxidizing agent undergoes REDUCTION.
-When it comes to electrochemical properties these two processes are noticed. After understanding the above two concepts we realize that:
-NON METALS undergo REDUCTION. Therefore, they are OXIDISING AGENTS.
-METALS undergo OXIDATION. Therefore, they are REDUCING AGENTS.
So to answer the above question correctly, we must mark option C.

Note: Remember the below mind map:
Nonmetals $=$ electronegative $=$ gain in electrons $=$ reduction $=$ oxidizing agent
Metals $=$ electropositive $=$ loss in electrons $=$ oxidation $=$ reducing agent.