Chemistry small doubt

[1992]

what is an oxidising agent and what is a reducing agent???

Why is chlorine a strong oxidising agent??

 

[azfar kashif]

Oxidising agents are the chemicals which oxidize other substances while getting reduced, themselves!!!! This means that the will gain electron/s!!!!!
Reducing agents are the total opposites!
Chlorine is a good oxidizing agent because it easily gains an electron! e.g. In NaCl, Cl gets a -ve charge by taking an electron from Na! thus, oxidizing Na!!!
And reducing itself!!!

 

[beacon_of_light]

Oxidation is loss of electrons while reduction is gain of electrons..
since chlorine is a powerful oxidising agent...it means it will oxidise the other specie and itself reduced! If chlorine reduces, it has to gain electron...so it does...reducing its oxidation state///

 

[1992]

thanks, but could u use the data booklet to know if an element is strong oxidising agent or reducing agent??
And, does it mean that all non metals are good oxidising agent while metals are good reducing agent??