Question

Would you expect potassium perchlorate,${\mathbf{\text{KClO}}}_{\mathbf{\text{4}}}\mathbf{\text{(aq)}}$,in a concentrated acidic solution to act as an oxidizing agent or as a reducing agent?

Short answer

The oxidising agent is an electron acceptor. An oxidising agent transfers oxygen atoms to a substrate, in this example potassium perchlorate, which acts as an electron acceptor.

Step-by-step solution

Definition of oxidizing and reducing agent.

Oxidizing agent: In a chemical reaction, oxidising agents are molecules that gain electrons.

Reducing agent: A material that can lose electrons is referred to as a reducing agent.

Explanation of solution.

Here, as an oxidising agent, potassium perchlorate in a concentrated acidic solution is used.

$\text{KClO\_4}\to {\text{K}}^{\text{+}}{\text{+ClO\_4}}^{\text{-}}$

So, an electron acceptor is the oxidising agent. An oxidising agent transfers oxygen atoms to a substrate, and the electron acceptor in this case is potassium perchlorate.