When silver reacts with sulfur to form tarnish, what element is the oxidizing agent?

Question

A Ag
B Ag+
C S
D S2-

Answer 1

Sulphur, answer c.

Answer 2

Oxidizing agent means it causes oxidation, or reduces on its own.

Oxidizing = lose electrons
Reduce = gain electrons.

So Ag turning to Ag+ is losing electrons, so it is the oxidizing reaction, and Ag itself is the reducing agent. Since this question is probably asking for the reactant (rather than product), your answer is S. S will recieve electrons donated by Ag, so Ag becomes Ag+ and S becomes S2-. So again, S causes Ag to lose electrons, thus making S the oxidation causer, the oxidizer, or the oxidizing agent.

Answer 3

Ag+ and S are both oxidizing agents
S is probably the answer because it is acting on the other