Question

Fluorine is best oxidizing agent because:
A. It is most electronegative
B. It has highest reduction potential
C. It has highest oxidation potential
D. It has smallest size

Answer 1

As we know, the redox potential is generally described by measuring a chemical species' tendency to acquire electrons from an electrode or lose electrons to an electrode, and thus they are reduced or oxidized, respectively.

Complete step by step solution
As we know, the oxidation and reduction both generally deal with the transferring or gaining of the electrons. So, the reactant which loses the electrons is termed as oxidized, and the reactant which gains the electrons is termed as reduced.
Fluorine belongs to group seventeen in the modern periodic table. This group is commonly termed as the halogen group. The elements of group seventeen are chlorine, fluorine (F), bromine (Br), iodine (I), astatine (At), and tennessine (Ts).
Fluorine is one of the most oxidizing agents because it has the highest reduction potential than bromine and iodine. It has a high reduction potential because the bond enthalpy of fluorine is low, and it is one of the electronegative elements. The general meaning of the reduction potential is to have more tendency to lose an electron. Because of electronegativities, it has a high tendency to lose electrons.

**Hence, the correct option is B; that is, "it has the highest reduction potential."

Note: **
The group seventeen is generally termed as halogens because they give salt when they react with metals. The fluorine is one of the best oxidizing agents due to high reduction potential.