[asenovkz]

I am having trouble understanding these questions. I get what the reducing and oxidizing agents are but the second part of it "and oxidizes/reduces" is confusing me. I thought a reducing agent always reduces and a oxidising agent always oxidizes. If someone could walk me through it step by step I would appreciate it!

In the reaction Ag + 2HNO3 (conc.) → AgNO3 + NO2 + H2O silver metal is:

A) a reducing agent and oxidizes (correct answer)

B) a reducing agent and reduces

C) an oxidizing agent and oxidizes

D) an oxidizing agent and reduces

2. In the reaction I2 + 10 HNO3 → 2 HIO3 + 10 NO2 + 4 H2O iodine is:

А) an oxidant and reduces nitrogen

B) an oxidant and oxidizes nitrogen

C) a reductant and oxidizes nitrogen

D) a reductant and reduces nitrogen (correct answer)

3. In the reaction 2Fe + 3V2O3 → Fe2O3 + 6VO iron atom is:

А) oxidant and reduces vanadium

B) oxidant and oxidizes vanadium

C) reductant and oxidizes vanadium

D) reductant and reduces vanadium (correct answer)

[Borek]

In general oxidizing agent oxidizes something and gets reduced in the process (reverse for the reducing agent). Does it help?

[mjc123]

In the first question, it would appear that the verb "oxidizes/reduces" is being used intransitively, so that "oxidizes" is equivalent to "is oxidized". This is a confusing usage which I do not recommend imitating.