Ontario Operator-in-Training (OIT) Practice Exam

Which of the following is a strong oxidizing agent used in oxidation?

1. Nitrogen

2. Hydrogen

3. Chlorine

4. Carbon

The correct answer is: Chlorine

Chlorine is recognized as a strong oxidizing agent due to its highly electronegative nature and ability to readily accept electrons during chemical reactions. In oxidation processes, a strong oxidizing agent facilitates the loss of electrons from another species, effectively causing that species to be oxidized while itself being reduced. Chlorine's effectiveness in this role can be attributed to its tendency to form chloride ions (Cl⁻) after accepting electrons. This property is widely utilized in various industrial applications, such as water treatment, where chlorine is employed to disinfect and kill bacteria by oxidizing organic matter. The other options—nitrogen, hydrogen, and carbon—do not exhibit the same strong oxidizing properties. Nitrogen typically serves as a stable inert gas under normal conditions. Hydrogen does not function as an oxidizer; rather, it is primarily a reducing agent. Carbon, while it can participate in oxidation reactions, does not have the same strong electronegative character as chlorine, making it less effective as an oxidizing agent. Therefore, the choice of chlorine as a strong oxidizing agent is well-founded in its chemical behavior and practical applications.