Oxygen is a powerful oxidizing agent.?

Question

 a) Assign oxidation number to O2. 

b) What does oxygen’s oxidation number usually change to when it functions as an oxidizing agent?

c) Describe the changes in oxidation states that occur in carbon and oxygen in the following combustion reaction, and identify the oxidizing agent and reducing agent:

C6H12O6(s) + 6O2(g) → 6CO2(g) + 6H2O(l)

Answer 1

Favorite Answer

a)

zero

b)

2-

c)

C{0} → C{4+} + 4 e{-}

O{0} + 2 e{-} → O{2-}

The title of your question tells you O2 is the oxidizing agent.

That leaves C6H12O6 to be the reducing agent.