Identifying Oxi/Red Agents [ENDORSED]

[Curtis Tam 1J]

Okay so I get that species being oxidized are the reducing agents and the same logic goes for the species being reduced. So my question is, if something like S2O3 2- is the reducing agent, is the entire molecule said to be oxidized or do we just say the S in the S2O3 2- is oxidized. Or is both acceptable?

[Rachel Lu_dis1H]

the whole thing S2O3 2- is the reducing agent or is oxidized

[Manasvi Paudel 1A]

I have the same question. Wouldn't the S be oxidized because it is the only element of the compound that is losing electrons?

[Curtis Tam 1J]

Not sure if there's a rule for it. Because for example we say glucose is "oxidized" in the combustion equation but technically the carbon I believe is being oxidized.

[Jennifer Ho 1K]

The convention is to say the whole molecule's being oxidized I believe, even if it's actually just the atom being oxidized.

[Kailey Brodeur 1J]

Yes, you can say the entire molecule is being oxidized since the compound is giving away electors even though these electrons come from one species in the molecule.

[Shreya Ramineni 2L]

The reducing agent/the component with reducing power is being oxidized and vice versa.