REDOX Agents

[305421980]

Why are the species that are oxidized called reducing agents and vice versa?

[DarrenKim_1H]

OILRIG

(Oxidized is Losing & Reduction is Gaining)

When something is oxidized it loses an electron because it gives that electron to something else, which makes it a reducing agent.

When something is reduced, it gains an electron by taking it from something else, making it an oxidizing agent

[BritneyP- 2c]

The species that are oxidized are called reducing agents because the other species related to them is getting reduced. Just as how if one is reduced something else is oxidized. So it aids in oxidation.

[Jasmine Kim 1L]

When something is an agent, they are usually doing the thing they are described as. For example, a cleaning agent cleans. In the same way, an oxidizing agent oxidizes another molecule, which leads to the agent being reduced. A reducing agent reduces, which causes it to be oxidized in the end.

[Miriam Villarreal 1J]

A reducing agent is a substance that causes another substance to gain electrons. That said, to identify A reducing agent, it must lose electrons and is oxidized in the chemical reaction. A reducing agent is typically in one of its lower possible oxidation states, and is known as the electron donor.

[Leslie Almaraz 4G]

what is the purpose of identifying the agents?

[Angela Prince 1J]

Why are the species that are oxidized called reducing agents and vice versa?

something that is oxidized is a reducing agent because in becoming oxidized, it reduces another molecule. the same goes for the other way around: a molecule that was reduced had to have oxidized another for it to reach that state.

[Angela Prince 1J]

what is the purpose of identifying the agents?

I think the main reason is just to understand that redox reactions work of each other. A reaction that oxidizes one molecule has to be paired to one that reduces another, and the electrons that are taken from one are given to another.

[Emily Chirila 2E]

I think of the "agent" part as meaning caused. So if something is an oxidizing agent, it caused oxidation of another substance by taking the e- from the other substance (the oxidizing agent is reduced) & vice versa.

[Cooper Baddley 1F]

The thing that takes the electrons is being reduced while at the same time it is oxidizing the other compound to get those electrons. Then the other situation is true, the thing that loses the electrons is being oxidized but also it is in a way giving those electrons to another compound which then reduces it.