- published: 19 Aug 2015
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An oxidizing agent (also called an oxidant, oxidizer or oxidiser) can be defined as a substance that removes electrons from another reactant in a redox chemical reaction. The oxidizing agent is "reduced" by taking electrons onto itself and the reactant is "oxidized" by having its electrons taken away. Oxygen is the prime example of an oxidizing agent, but it is only one among many.
In simple terms:
The formation of iron(III) oxide;
In the above equation, the iron (Fe) has an oxidation number of 0 before and 3+ after the reaction. For oxygen (O) the oxidation number began as 0 and decreased to 2−. These changes can be viewed as two "half-reactions" that occur concurrently:
Iron (Fe) has become oxidized because its oxidation number increased and was the reducing agent because it gave electrons to the oxygen (O). Oxygen (O) has been reduced because the oxidation number has decreased and was the oxidizing agent because it took electrons from iron (Fe).
Because the process of oxidation is so widespread (fire, explosives, chemical synthesis, corrosion), the term oxidizing agent has acquired multiple meanings.