Question

Which of the following is the strongest reducing agent?
(a)- Be
(b)- Ba
(c)- Ca
(d)- Mg

Answer 1

From the given elements find the element that has the largest size because it will have the lowest electronegativity and it will easily lose electrons to other substances in a redox reaction to getting oxidized.

Complete answer:
We know that there are many types of reactions and redox reactions are one of its types. A reaction in which reduction and oxidation take place is known as a redox reaction, so in these reactions, there is the reducing agent and oxidizing agent. Therefore, the substance which is the reducing agent will get oxidized and the substance which is an oxidizing agent will get reduced.
The reducing agent has the property of losing electrons to get oxidized, so there are some properties that help to decide the strength of the reducing agent. These are size and electronegativity.
The elements given in the options are the elements of alkaline earth metal. Be is beryllium, Ba is barium, Ca is calcium, and Mg is magnesium. The largest size of the element among these is barium, so it will have the least electronegativity from the following. Due to its low electronegativity, the electrons can be easily removed from the barium atom, so it will get oxidized easily. Therefore, it is the strongest reducing agent.

Hence, the correct answer is an option (b).

Note:
If the element is the strongest reducing agent, then it will be the weakest oxidizing agent and if the element is the strongest oxidizing agent, then it will be the weakest reducing agent.