The element which never acts as reducing agent in a chemical reaction is

Options

A. `O`
B. `Li`
C. `F`
D. `C`

Answer

To determine the element that never acts as a reducing agent among the given options, we need to understand the concept of reducing agents and how certain elements behave in chemical reactions.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Define a Reducing Agent**: A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons to another substance, thereby reducing that substance while itself being oxidized. This means that a reducing agent loses electrons during the reaction.

2. **Identify the Elements**: We need to analyze the behavior of the elements provided in the options. The key element we are focusing on is fluorine.

3. **Analyze Fluorine**:
- Fluorine has an atomic number of 9, which means its electronic configuration is 1s² 2s² 2p⁵.
- In the outermost shell (the second shell), fluorine has 5 electrons in the p-orbital and needs one more electron to complete its octet.

4. **Behavior of Fluorine**:
- Since fluorine has only one unpaired electron, it has a strong tendency to gain an electron rather than lose one.
- By gaining an electron, fluorine achieves a stable electronic configuration (octet), which means it is more likely to act as an oxidizing agent rather than a reducing agent.

5. **Conclusion**: Based on the analysis, fluorine does not lose electrons; instead, it gains electrons. Therefore, it cannot act as a reducing agent.

6. **Final Answer**: The element which never acts as a reducing agent in a chemical reaction is **Fluorine**.