When is an oxidizing agent also the species that gets oxidized? Explain.

In a redox (reduction-oxidation) reaction, one species loses electrons, and another species gains electrons. The species that loses electrons is said to be oxidized, while the species that gains electrons is said to be reduced. For example, in the reaction between hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) to form water (H2O): \(2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O\) Hydrogen loses electrons and is oxidized: \(H_2 \rightarrow 2H^+ + 2e^-\) Oxygen gains electrons and is reduced: \(O_2 + 4e^- \rightarrow 2O^{2-}\)

The species that causes oxidation of another species is called the oxidizing agent, while the species that causes reduction of another species is called the reducing agent. In the example above, oxygen (O2) is the oxidizing agent because it causes hydrogen (H2) to lose electrons. Hydrogen (H2) is the reducing agent because it causes oxygen (O2) to gain electrons.

For an oxidizing agent to also be the species that gets oxidized, it must participate in a reaction with another species that has the same or greater ability to accept or gain electrons. In other words, the oxidizing agent needs to interact with another substance that is equally or more effective at oxidizing. In such scenarios, both substances will be undergoing oxidation, and therefore, the oxidizing agent is also the species that gets oxidized. An example of this situation can be seen in the reaction between two different metal ions where both are competing to take electrons from one another. Such reactions are also known as "disproportionation reactions." Disproportionation reaction example: The decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) in an acidic solution can be shown as: \(2H_2O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O + O_2\) In this case, hydrogen peroxide is both the oxidizing and reducing agents as it causes the reduction of one oxygen atom (O) while causing the oxidation of the other. In conclusion, an oxidizing agent can also be the species that gets oxidized when it reacts with a substance that has the same or greater ability to accept or gain electrons. In these cases, both the substances will undergo oxidation, making the oxidizing agent the species that gets oxidized as well.