Answer: The reducing agent is magnesium
Explanation:
Reducing agents are defined as the agents which reduces other substance and itself gets oxidized. These agents undergoes oxidation reactions and oxidation reaction is the reaction in which an atom looses its electrons.
For the given chemical cell:
[tex]Mg(s)|Mg^{2+}(aq.)||Li^+(aq.)|Li(s)[/tex]
The half reaction for the given cell follows:
Oxidation half reaction: [tex]Mg(s)\rightarrow Mg(aq.)+2e^-[/tex]
Reduction half reaction: [tex]Li^+(aq.)+e^-\rightarrow Li(s)[/tex] ( × 2)
From the above half reactions, magnesium is undergoing oxidation reaction and is considered as reducing agent.
Hence, the reducing agent is magnesium
