Question

Sodium sulfate reacts with carbon to produce the products sodium sulfide and carbon monoxide. Identify the reducing agent in the following reaction. Na2SO4 + 4C yields Na2S + 4CO

Answer 1

Reducing Agent - Carbon (C)
Oxidizing Agent - Na2SO4

Answer 2

Answer: Reducing agent in the given reaction is Carbon (C).

Explanation: Reducing agents are the species which helps in the reduction process and itself gets oxidised.

Oxidation reaction is considered as the addition of oxygen molecule to the substance.

For the given reaction:

$Na_2SO_4+4C\rightarrow Na_2S+4CO$

Oxygen molecule is getting added to the Carbon atom and hence, this is considered as the reducing agent.