Magnesium reacts with iron(II) chloride according to the equation

Mg(s) + FeCl2(aq) → MgCl2(aq) + Fe(s)



a. Is magnesium oxidized or is it reduced?

Magnesium is reduced.



b. Is iron(II) ion oxidized or is it reduced?

Iron(II) ion is oxidized .



c. What is the oxidizing agent?

Mg


d. What is the reducing agent?

Fe2+

All of your answers should be reversed.

Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Reduction is the gain of electrons.
The substance oxidized is the reducing agent.
The substance reduced is the oxidizing agent.

Mg goes from zero oxidation state on the left to +2 on the right. That is a loss of two electrons; therefore, it is oxidized. That makes it the reducing agent.
Fe goes from +2 on the left to zero on the right; that is a gain of electrons. That makes it reduced and Fe^2+ is the oxidizing agent.

Which species is reductant and spectator ions?

To determine whether magnesium is oxidized or reduced in the reaction, we need to look at the changes in its oxidation state. In this reaction, magnesium goes from an oxidation state of 0 in its elemental form (Mg(s)) to an oxidation state of +2 in magnesium chloride (MgCl2(aq)). Since magnesium's oxidation state increases, it is being oxidized.

Similarly, to determine if the iron(II) ion is oxidized or reduced, we need to evaluate the changes in its oxidation state. In this reaction, iron(II) goes from an oxidation state of +2 in iron(II) chloride (FeCl2(aq)) to an oxidation state of 0 in elemental iron (Fe(s)). Since the oxidation state of iron decreases, it is being reduced.

The oxidizing agent is the species that causes another species to be oxidized. In this case, magnesium is being oxidized, so the oxidizing agent is the species that is responsible for its oxidation. In the reaction, it is the iron(II) ion (Fe2+) that is causing the oxidation of magnesium, therefore the iron(II) ion is the oxidizing agent.

The reducing agent is the species that causes another species to be reduced. In this case, iron(II) ion is being reduced, so the reducing agent is the species that is responsible for its reduction. In the reaction, it is the magnesium that is causing the reduction of iron(II) ion, therefore magnesium is the reducing agent.

In this reaction Fe is reduced (gain of electrons/ loss of oxygen) and Mg is oxidised (loss of electrons/ gain of oxygen)

This is for Magnesium reacting with Iron II, and not Iron III.