Oxidized vs oxidizing agent

[Katie Frei 1L]

Is there a difference between being oxidized versus being the oxidizing agent? Thank you!

[Xinyi Zeng 4C]

They are two different things. The oxidizing agent will be reduced, as it will oxidize the other thing that is involved in the redox reaction. That's why it is an "oxidizing agent". If a thing is oxidized, it means that it is a reducing agent, as the other thing in the redox reaction will be reduced.

[Lia Inadomi 1I]

You can try to remember this like the oxidizing agent is the thing that does the oxidizing (accepting an electron) and in turn gets reduced. Basically just think of it as the action it is doing.

[Albert_Luu3K]

Remembering the difference between being oxidized and being the oxidizing agent AND being reduced and being the reducing agent can be confusing.You just got to remember that if a molecule is being oxidized, then it is the reducing agent because it is the one losing and transferring the electrons over. The molecule being reduced is the oxidizing agent because it is accepting this transfer of electrons.

[Yiting_Gong_4L]

Yes, there is a difference. Being oxidized means that molecule is the reducing agent. Being reduced means that the molecule is the oxidizing agent.

[Celine Hoh 2L]

I usually just remember one as an opposite of another. If something is being oxidized, then it is the reducing agent.

[Arta Kasaeian 2C]

Basically the reactant in the reduction reaction is the oxidizing agent, which is what enables the reactant in the oxidized reaction to get oxidized. On the other hand, the reactant in the oxidation half reaction is the reducing agent for the reactant in the reduction half reaction.