Oxidizing and Reducing Agents — Definition & Examples

What are Oxidizing and Reducing Agents?

In an oxidation-reduction reaction, oxidizing agents oxidize a reagent while being reduced themselves. Reducing agents reduce a reagent while being oxidized. Some compounds are known to be strong oxidizing agents (likely to accept electrons) or strong reducing reagents (likely to lose electrons).

Oxidizing Agents

Common oxidizing agents include oxygen ($O_2$) and halogens. Sometimes oxidizing agents can also transfer oxygen to other compounds. Typically, oxygen atom transfer oxidizing agents are oxides (contain $O$$^2$$^-$).

Reducing Agents

Reducing agents can include some acids, and hydrogen. Sometimes reducing agents will accept an oxygen atom.

Example

$$Al\ +\ Fe_2O_3 \rightarrow\ Al_2O_3\ +\ Fe\\$$ $$Oxidation\ States \\ Al:\ 0\ \rightarrow\ +3\\ Fe:\ +3\ \rightarrow\ 0\\ O:\ 2-\ \rightarrow\ 2-\\$$

Al loses electrons and Fe gains electrons.

Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

(Video) Oxidizing Agents and Reducing Agents

By: Tyler DeWitt

This video goes into depth what oxidizing and reducing agents are, what they do and how they do it, as well as how to identify oxidizing and reducing agents in chemical reactions. This video does a good job at going in depth and visualizing these processes.