Oxidising & Reducing Agents
Oxidising agent
- An oxidising agent is a substance that oxidises another atom or ion by causing it to lose electrons
- An oxidising agent itself gets reduced – gains electrons
- Therefore, the ox. no. of the oxidising agent decreases
Example of an oxidising agent in a chemical reaction
Reducing agent
- A reducing agent is a substance that reduces another atom or ion by causing it to gain electrons
- A reducing agent itself gets oxidised – loses/donates electrons
- Therefore, the ox. no. of the reducing agent increases
Example of a reducing agent in a chemical reaction
- For a reaction to be recognised as a redox reaction, there must be both an oxidising and reducing agent
- Some substances can act both as oxidising and reducing agents
- Their nature is dependent upon what they are reacting with and the reaction conditions
Oxidising & Reducing Agents Table