Question

Identify the oxidizing agent (oxidant) in the following reactions.
$3Fe + 4{H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + 4{H_2}$

Answer 1

In order to identify which is the oxidising agent present in the following reaction, we must first have an idea about what an oxidising agent is. Oxidizing agent is the substance which can Oxidize the other chemical species present in the reaction and it will get reduced.

Complete step by step answer:
- Let us first see what an oxidizing agent is. Oxidizing agent is the substance which can Oxidize the other chemical species present in the reaction and it will get reduced.
- Oxidizing agent will increase the oxidation state of the other substance, while the oxidation state of it will be decreased.
- We can also say that oxidizing agents will remove the electron from the other species and it will gain those electrons.
- It has the ability to transfer at least one electronegative atom to the chemical species in the chemical reaction.
Let us now come to the given question.
$3Fe + 4{H_2}O \to F{e_3}{O_4} + 4{H_2}$
From the above question we have to see in which compound the oxidation number is reduced, then that will be the oxidising agent.
In the above equation the $Fe$ is oxidized to $F{e_3}{O_4}$, the ${H_2}O$ is reduced to ${H_2}$. Therefore, ${H_2}O$ is the oxidising agent.

Note: Some of the application of the oxidising agent is
- They can be used for the purification of water.
- They can be used for the bleaching of fabrics.
- Combustion of fuel also requires the oxidizing agent.
- It will play a very important role in many biological processes.