Product Code Database
An oxidizing agent (also known as an oxidant, oxidizer, electron recipient, or electron acceptor) is a substance in a redox chemical reaction that gains or "accepts"/"receives" an electron from a (called the , , or electron donor). In other words, an oxidizer is any substance that another substance. The oxidation state, which describes the degree of loss of electrons, of the oxidizer decreases while that of the reductant increases; this is expressed by saying that oxidizers "undergo reduction" and "are reduced" while reducers "undergo oxidation" and "are oxidized". Common oxidizing agents are oxygen, hydrogen peroxide, and the .
In one sense, an oxidizing agent is a chemical species that undergoes a chemical reaction in which it gains one or more electrons. In that sense, it is one component in an Redox (redox) reaction. In the second sense, an oxidizing agent is a chemical species that transfers electronegative atoms, usually oxygen, to a substrate. Combustion, many explosives, and organic redox reactions involve atom-transfer reactions.
Extensive tabulations of ranking the electron accepting properties of various reagents (redox potentials) are available, see Standard electrode potential (data page).
In some cases, these oxides can also serve as electron acceptors, as illustrated by the conversion of to ,ie permanganate to manganate.
The U.S. Department of Transportation defines oxidizing agents specifically. There are two definitions for oxidizing agents governed under DOT regulations. These two are Class 5; Division 5.1(a)1 and Class 5; Division 5.1(a)2. Division 5.1 "means a material that may, generally by yielding oxygen, cause or enhance the combustion of other materials." Division 5.(a)1 of the DOT code applies to solid oxidizers "if, when tested in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria (IBR, see § 171.7 of this subchapter), its mean burning time is less than or equal to the burning time of a 3:7 potassium bromate/cellulose mixture." 5.1(a)2 of the DOT code applies to liquid oxidizers "if, when tested in accordance with the UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, it spontaneously ignites or its mean time for a pressure rise from 690 kPa to 2070 kPa gauge is less than the time of a 1:1 nitric acid (65 percent)/cellulose mixture."49 CFR 172.127 General Requirements for Shipments and Packagings; Subpart D
| O2 oxygen | Various, including the oxides H2O and CO2 |
| O3 ozone | Various, including ketones, aldehydes, and H2O; see ozonolysis |
| F2 fluorine | F− |
| Cl2 chlorine | Cl− |
| Br2 bromine | Br− |
| I2 iodine | I−, |
| ClO− hypochlorite | Cl−, H2O |
| chlorate | Cl−, H2O |
| HNO3 nitric acid | NO nitric oxide (Dilute nitric acid) NO2 nitrogen dioxide (Concentrated nitric acid) |
| H2SO4( l) Sulfuric acid SO3 Sulfur trioxide | SO2 Sulphur dioxide (non-aqueous) H2SO3 Sulfurous acid (In aqueous solution) |
| SO2 sulfur dioxide | S sulfur (Claus process, ultramarine production, more commonly reducing agent) |
| Hexavalent chromium CrO3 chromium trioxide Chromate ion dichromate | Cr3+, H2O |
| permanganate manganate | Mn2+ (acidic) or MnO2 (basic) |
| Ag+ ion Silver ion | Ag (Metal) |
| SbF5 antimony pentafluoride | SbF6− hexafluoroantimonate or SbF3 antimony trifluoride |
| PtF6 platinum hexafluoride | PtF6− hexafluoroplatinate |
| ruthenium tetroxide osmium tetroxide | in organic lab scale synthesis |
| H2O2, other | Various, including oxides and H2O |
| Tl(III) Thallium compounds | Tl(I) thallous compounds, in organic lab scale synthesis |
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