What is an oxidizing agent?

An oxidizing agent is fundamentally defined as a species that accepts electrons during a chemical reaction. This process is known as reduction, where the oxidizing agent itself undergoes a decrease in oxidation state. By receiving electrons, the oxidizing agent facilitates the oxidation of another species, which is why it’s instrumental in redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions.

For clarity, let’s consider the other options. A species that loses electrons is termed a reducing agent, as it donates electrons to another species and thus gets oxidized in the process. The choice that states a species that is oxidized also refers to the reducing agent, reinforcing the concept that oxidizing and reducing agents are typically opposites in redox reactions. Lastly, a neutral species does not inherently have a role as either an oxidizing or reducing agent, as its behavior depends on the context of the specific reaction and its electron transfer capabilities. Hence, the correct definition of an oxidizing agent aligns clearly with the first choice.