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It is because when a substance is oxidized, it loses electrons which are taken up by other so that is gets reduced.This is why it is called reducing agent.

Similarly, the substance reduced is called oxidizing agent.

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What is used to test for reducing and oxidising agents?

When some substances are oxidised or reduced, there is a colour change.Testing for a reducing agent:An oxidising agent is a substance that causes another substance to be oxidised & is itself reduced. Acidified potassium manganate (VII) is an example of one. While it oxidises other substances, the manganate ion is reduced (because the oxidation state decreases showing that reduction is occuring) :MnO4- --> Mn2+oxdations state:+VII+2colour:PinkColourlessSo, to see if an unknown substance is a reducing agent, add acidifies potassium manganate (VII) to see if the pink colour fades. If it does, you know the unknown substance was a reducing agent, because it caused reduction.Testing for an oxidising agent:A reducing agent is a substance which causes reduction, but is oxidised itself. Potassium iodide is a powerful reducing agent. While it reduces other substances, the iodide ion is oxidised (because the oxidising state increases) resulting in a colour change:2I- -->I2Oxidising state:-10 (the oxidising state of a diatomic molecule is 0)Colour:ColourlessRed-brownSo, to see if an unknown substance is an oxidising agent, add potassium iodide to see if a red-brown colour appears. If it does, you know your unknown substance is an oxidising agent because it caused a reduction


What is a reducing agent in chemistry?

A substance that is good at reducing another atom


What role play oxidising agent in a reaction?

An oxidizing agent causes oxidation by accepting electrons from the substance being oxidized. It facilitates the loss of electrons from one substance, which leads to the oxidation of that substance. In the process, the oxidizing agent itself is reduced.


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

An oxidizing agent is a substance that accepts electrons in a chemical reaction, causing another substance to be oxidized. A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons in a chemical reaction, causing another substance to be reduced. In essence, an oxidizing agent promotes oxidation reactions, while a reducing agent promotes reduction reactions.


Sulphur dioxide can act as oxidising agent only?

Sulfur dioxide can act both as an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent. As an oxidizing agent, sulfur dioxide can be reduced to sulfur or sulfite ions. As a reducing agent, sulfur dioxide can be oxidized to sulfur trioxide or sulfuric acid.

Related Questions

What is used to test for reducing and oxidising agents?

When some substances are oxidised or reduced, there is a colour change.Testing for a reducing agent:An oxidising agent is a substance that causes another substance to be oxidised & is itself reduced. Acidified potassium manganate (VII) is an example of one. While it oxidises other substances, the manganate ion is reduced (because the oxidation state decreases showing that reduction is occuring) :MnO4- --> Mn2+oxdations state:+VII+2colour:PinkColourlessSo, to see if an unknown substance is a reducing agent, add acidifies potassium manganate (VII) to see if the pink colour fades. If it does, you know the unknown substance was a reducing agent, because it caused reduction.Testing for an oxidising agent:A reducing agent is a substance which causes reduction, but is oxidised itself. Potassium iodide is a powerful reducing agent. While it reduces other substances, the iodide ion is oxidised (because the oxidising state increases) resulting in a colour change:2I- -->I2Oxidising state:-10 (the oxidising state of a diatomic molecule is 0)Colour:ColourlessRed-brownSo, to see if an unknown substance is an oxidising agent, add potassium iodide to see if a red-brown colour appears. If it does, you know your unknown substance is an oxidising agent because it caused a reduction


What substance in blood reacted with hydrogen peroxide?

The iron in haemoglobin is reduced oxidised by the hydrogen peroxide which is an oxidising agent.


What is the relationship between oxidising agent and the reduced substance?

Its the substance reduced which is termed to be an oxidizing agent. When a substance is reduced, it loses electrons that are taken up by another substance thereby oxidizing another substance (oxidising agent).


What is the relationship between oxidizing and oxidizing agent?

An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes another substance to be oxidized. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons by a substance, while reduction refers to the gain of electrons. In a redox reaction, the oxidizing agent itself gets reduced as it accepts electrons from the substance being oxidized.


What is a reducing agent in chemistry?

A substance that is good at reducing another atom


Is ammonium ion a reducing or oxidising agent?

Ammonium ion (NH4+) is a reducing agent because it can donate electrons to other species, causing them to be reduced. In this process, the ammonium ion itself becomes oxidized.


What role play oxidising agent in a reaction?

An oxidizing agent causes oxidation by accepting electrons from the substance being oxidized. It facilitates the loss of electrons from one substance, which leads to the oxidation of that substance. In the process, the oxidizing agent itself is reduced.


What do reducing agents do during redox reactions?

Reducing agents donate electrons to another substance, causing it to be reduced (gain electrons). In the process, the reducing agent itself gets oxidized (loses electrons). This transfer of electrons from the reducing agent to the substance being reduced allows the redox reaction to occur.


Is the element zinc easily reduced?

No it is not. However, it is easily oxidised.


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

An oxidizing agent is a substance that accepts electrons in a chemical reaction, causing another substance to be oxidized. A reducing agent is a substance that donates electrons in a chemical reaction, causing another substance to be reduced. In essence, an oxidizing agent promotes oxidation reactions, while a reducing agent promotes reduction reactions.


A substance that shows a decrease in oxidation number during chemical reaction?

A substance that shows a decrease in oxidation number during a chemical reaction is being reduced. Reduction involves a decrease in the oxidation number of an element. This indicates a gain of electrons by the substance.


The substance that accepts electrons from another substance is the?

In a redox reaction, the substance that accepts electrons is said to be the substance reduced. This substance is also likely the oxidizing agent, since oxidation is the loss of electrons.