Question

Identify the oxidizing agent (oxidant) in the following reactions:
$CuO+{{H}_{2}}\to Cu+{{H}_{2}}O$

Answer 1

An oxidizing agent oxidizes another substance and itself gets reduced. In this question the oxidizing agent will be the one which gains electrons or we can say that which accepts electrons.

Complete step by step answer:
Before identifying the oxidizing agent let’s understand what the basic terms like oxidation, reduction, oxidizing agent and reducing agent means.
Oxidation is the loss of electrons or it is the increase in the oxidation state of an element or addition of oxygen to an element or removal of hydrogen from an element.
Reduction is the gain of electrons or it is the decrease in the oxidation state of an element or addition of hydrogen to an element or removal of oxygen from an element.
An oxidizing agent is a substance which gains electrons and gets reduced which leads to the decrease in oxidation state. It oxidizes the other substance.
A reducing agent is a substance which loses electrons and gets oxidized which leads to the increase in oxidation state. It reduce the other substance.
In the given reaction,
Cupric oxide $CuO$ reacts with hydrogen ${{H}_{2}}$ to form copper and water.
$CuO+{{H}_{2}}\to Cu+{{H}_{2}}O$
Cupric oxide gets reduced to Copper by the removal of oxygen and hydrogen gets oxidised to water by addition of oxygen.
Oxidised- hydrogen ${{H}_{2}}$
Reduced- cupric oxide $CuO$
Oxidizing agent – cupric oxide $CuO$
Reducing agent – hydrogen ${{H}_{2}}$
Hence the correct answer is cupric oxide $CuO$.

Note: Make sure that the chemical reaction is balanced as it helps in determining the oxidizing and reducing agent when there is a change in oxidation state and also to calculate the number of electrons gained or loose during the reaction.