14.3 (d) and 14.5 (b) oxidizing and reducing agents

[904565142]

I understand how the reactants are both oxidized and reduced in the reaction, thus being both the reducing and oxidizing agent at the same time, but I'm a bit confused on what the reactant is reducing/oxidizing.

[Ronald Yang 2F]

I'm guessing you are talking about one compound being both reduced and oxidized into two products. In a sense, it is also the reducing agent and oxidizing agent. For example, consider the reaction 2H₂O -> 2H₂ + O₂. Water is reduced to hydrogen, while water is oxidized to oxygen. If it's easier to view it this way, the reduced water is causing another water to be oxidized.