Consider Mg + Cl2 --> MgCl2, a) What is oxidized? b) what is reduced?
Oxidation means addition of oxygen and removal of hydrogen whereas reduction means removal of oxygen and addition of hydrogen. In other words, reduction means gaining of one or more electrons and oxidation is losing one or more electrons.
The given reaction is--
Mg + Cl2 ------> MgCl2
a)Here Mg is oxidized to Mg2+ since it loses 2 (two) electrons. This can be shown as--
Mg -----> Mg2+ + 2e-
b) And Cl2 is reduced to 2Cl- since it accepts 2 (two) electrons. this can be shown as--
Cl2 + 2e- ---> 2 Cl-
Adding both the reactions (a and b) we will get,
Mg + Cl2 ----> MgCl2
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