Oxidizer Website Links For
Agent
 

Information About

Oxidizer




label for oxidising agents]]
__NOTOC__
An oxidizing agent is a Chemical Compound that Oxidizes another substance in Electrochemistry or Redox Chemical Reaction s. In doing so, the oxidizing agent, sometimes called an '''oxidizer''' or '''oxidant''', becomes Reduce d in the process.

In simple terms:
  • The oxidizing agent is ''reduced''.

  • The reducing agent is ''oxidized''.

  • All parts of an element in a redox reaction have an '' Oxidation Number ''.

  • Redox reactions occur when '' Electron s'' are exchanged.



EXAMPLE OF OXIDATION

The formation of iron oxide;
:4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) → 2Fe2O3(s)

In the above equation the Iron III (Fe) has an oxidation number of 0 and in the end the oxidation number has ''increased'' to 3+. For Oxygen (O) the oxidation number began as 0 and has ''decreased'' to 2-. These changes can be viewed as two " Half-reaction s" that occur concurrently.

#Oxidation Half Reaction: 4Fe(s) → 2Fe2O3(s) + 12 electrons
#Reduction Half Reaction: 3O2(g) + 12 electrons → 2Fe2O3(s)

Iron III (Fe) has been oxidized because the oxidation number increased and is the reducing agent because it gave electrons to the oxygen (O).
oxygen (O) has been reduced because the oxidation number has decreased and is the oxidizing agent because it took electrons from iron (Fe)


ALTERNATE MEANINGS

Because the process of Oxidation is so widespread ( Explosive s, Chemical Synthesis , Corrosion ), the term ''oxidizing agent'' has acquired multiple meanings.

One definition, an oxidizing agent receives - or accepts - electrons from a reagent. In this context, the oxidizing agent is called an '' Electron Acceptor ''. A classic oxidizing agent is the Ferrocenium ion {Link without Title} + which accepts an electron to form Fe(C5H5)2. Of great interest to Chemist s are the details of the Electron Transfer event, which can be described as inner sphere or outer sphere.

In another more colloquial usage, an oxidizing agent transfers oxygen atoms to the substrate. In this context, the oxidizing agent can be called an oxygenation reagent or oxygen-atom transfer agent. Examples include [MnO4]- Permanganate , [CrO4]2- Chromate , and OsO4 Osmium Tetroxide . Notice that these species are all Oxide s, and in fact, Polyoxide s. In some cases, these oxides can also serve as Electron Acceptor s, as illustrated by the conversion of to [MnO4 2-, Manganate .


COMMON OXIDIZING AGENTS



COMMON OXIDIZING AGENTS AND THEIR PRODUCTS


There are many other oxidizing agents; too numerous to list here.


SEE ALSO