Which of the following substances is not a reducing agent?
Answer Details
A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons to another substance in a chemical reaction. In other words, a reducing agent is oxidized (loses electrons) while another substance is reduced (gains electrons).
Of the substances listed, the one that is not a reducing agent is O\(_2\). This is because oxygen is an oxidizing agent, meaning that it accepts electrons from another substance during a reaction. It does not donate electrons, so it cannot act as a reducing agent.