Which species is identified as the strongest oxidizing agent?

The strongest oxidizing agent in this context is identified as Cl2 (chlorine gas). An oxidizing agent is a substance that can accept electrons from another species during a chemical reaction, effectively causing the other species to be oxidized. The strength of an oxidizing agent is often determined by its standard reduction potential, with higher values indicating a greater ability to gain electrons.

Chlorine gas has a high standard reduction potential and readily accepts electrons to form chloride ions (Cl⁻). This makes it a powerful oxidizing agent in various chemical reactions. When comparing it to the other species listed:

• Fe2+(aq), Mn2+(aq), and VO2+(aq) have lower reduction potentials compared to Cl2, which means they are less capable of accepting electrons from other substances. They can still act as oxidizers under certain conditions, but they do not match the strength of Cl2.

Thus, when assessing the ability to act as an oxidizing agent, chlorine gas stands out due to its favorable electron-accepting characteristics, making it the strongest oxidizing agent among the choices provided.