Which of the following is the strongest oxidising agent ?

Options

A. `F_(2)`
B. `Cl_(2)`
C. `Br_(2)`
D. `l_(2)`

Answer

To determine which of the given halogens (Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine, and Iodine) is the strongest oxidizing agent, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Understand the Concept of Oxidizing Agents
An oxidizing agent is a substance that can accept electrons in a chemical reaction. When it accepts electrons, it gets reduced while causing another substance to be oxidized (lose electrons).

### Step 2: Identify the Halogens Given
The halogens provided in the question are:
- Fluorine (F2)
- Chlorine (Cl2)
- Bromine (Br2)
- Iodine (I2)

### Step 3: Analyze Electronegativity
Electronegativity is a measure of an atom's ability to attract and hold onto electrons. In the periodic table, electronegativity decreases as you move down a group. Therefore, the electronegativity of the halogens is as follows:
- Fluorine (most electronegative)
- Chlorine
- Bromine
- Iodine (least electronegative)

### Step 4: Determine the Strongest Oxidizing Agent
Since fluorine is the most electronegative element, it has the highest tendency to gain electrons. This means it can effectively oxidize other substances by accepting electrons.

### Step 5: Conclusion
Based on the analysis, we can conclude that:
- Fluorine (F2) is the strongest oxidizing agent among the given options because it readily accepts electrons due to its high electronegativity.

### Final Answer
**Fluorine (F2) is the strongest oxidizing agent.**

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