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What is an oxidizing agent?

Updated: 8/9/2023
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8y ago

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A substance that oxidizes another substance

Any chemical substance that has a tendency to accept electrons and thereby undergoing reduction themselves is known as an oxidising agent.

An oxidizer is a compound that supplies its own oxygen and heat when in contact with organic compounds. These chemicals that can react vigorously and explode.

Oxidizers are compounds which are capable of reacting with and oxidizing (i.e., giving off oxygen) other materials. A well known example of oxidation is the process we know as corrosion, where the metal reacts with air to form the metal oxides referred to as "rust".

The primary hazard associated with this class of compounds lies in their ability to act as an oxygen source, and thus to readily stimulate the combustion of organic materials. As you may recall, it takes three components for a fire to happen - a fuel source (usually an organic compound, such as paper), an ignition source (such as a flame, a spark, friction, etc.) and an oxygen source (in this case - a cylinder of OXYGEN, a strong oxidizer).

Oxidizers may be grouped into 4 classes based on their ability to affect the burning rate of combustible materials or undergo self-sustained decomposition. This classification system was established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 43A, 1980) as a means to provide information on safe storage of oxidizing materials.

Class 1: An oxidizing material whose primary hazard is that it may increase the burning rate of combustible material with which it comes in contact

Class 2: An oxidizing material that will moderately increase the burning rate of which may cause spontaneous ignitionof combustible material with which it ocmes in contact.

Class 3: An oxidizing material that will cause a severe increase in the burning rate of combustible material with which it comes in contact or which will undergo vigorous self-substained decomposition when catalyzed or exposed to heat.

Class 4: An oxidizing material that can undergo an explosive reaction when catalyzed or exposed to heat, shock or friction.

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8y ago
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14y ago

An oxidizing agent is a chemical substance, which in a chemical reaction has a high tendency to get reduced while causing the other reactant to get oxidized. An reducing agent is a chemical substance, which in a chemical reaction has a high tendency to get oxidized while causing the other reactant to get reduced.

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8y ago

Oxidizing agent or oxidant is that substance which supplies oxygen or removes hydrogen or supplies electronegative elements or removes electropostive elements. For example in the reaction-
PbO + C ---> Pb + CO
Pb is the oxidizing agent because it is providing oxygen.

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14y ago

Oxidant - is the susbtance that in a redox reaction receives electrons.

Reducing agent / reducer - is the one that gives electrons.

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11y ago

Something which has tendency to add or remove hydrocarbons

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12y ago

The meaning of oxidizing is generally able to oxydate, to cause an oxydation.

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10y ago

A substance that oxidizes another substance

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8y ago

An oxidizing agent is a substance that gains or accepts electrons from another substance. It, itself, thus becomes reduced.

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7y ago

A strong oxidizing agent is something that will very easily/readily accept electrons.

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9y ago

"electron receptor"

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Is N2 an oxidizing agent?

Nitrogen is not an oxidizing agent.


What is the oxidizing agent in butane combustion?

The oxidizing agent is oxygen.


Is NaCl a common oxidizing agent?

Sodium chloride is not an oxidizing agent.


Is nitrous acid an oxidizing agent or reducing agent?

it is both oxidizing as well as reducing agent


Is oxygen the oxidizing agent in combustion and the reducing agent in corrosion?

oxygen is the oxidizing agent in both corrosion and combustion


What is the difference between an oxidizing agent and a fuel?

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Is nitrogen oxidizing agent?

no


What is the relationship between oxidizing and oxidizing agent?

relationship between oxidation and oxidising agent in a redox reaction


What is the Difference between an oxidizing agent and reducing agent?

An oxidizing agent oxidizes the reducing agent, while the reducing agent reduces the oxidizing agent. In simple terms, both processes occur simultaneously. Oxidizing is defined as: the gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen or loss of electrons. E.g.: C + O2 -> CO2 In this case oxygen would be the oxidizing agent as it supplies oxygen to the carbon. Similarly carbon would be the reducing agent in this case.


Is nitrogen an oxidizing agent or a reducing agent?

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What is the effect of replacing iodine with other oxidizing agents?

The effect of replacing iodine with other oxidizing agents is that the substance being stained will not be stained. Iodine is the only oxidizing agent to dye the material.


Under what conditions does an oxidizing agent donate electrons?

by definition, a chemical behaves as an oxidizing agent only when it accepts electrons