Is Potassium Hydroxide a Reducing Agent in the Reaction with Chlorine?

[Clara Chung]

1.
The equation below represents the reaction of chlorine with hot concentrated potassium hydroxide solution: 3Cl2(g) + 6KOH(aq) → 5KCl(aq) + KClO3(aq) + 3H2O(l) Which of the following statements concerning this reaction is/are correct?
(1) Potassium hydroxide acts as a reducing agent
(2) The oxidation number of chlorine changes from 0 to –1
(3) The oxidation number of chlorine changes from 0 to +5 A.
(1) only B. (2) only C. (1) and (3) only D. (2) and (3) only.

Homework Equations

The Attempt at a Solution

The answer is D. But isn't KOH a reducing agent and a oxidizing agent? It loses O and H at the same time.

 

[Borek]

Losing H or O is in general not equivalent with being oxidized or reduced. The only things that are reduced or oxidized are those that accept or loose electrons.