Oxidation/Reaction Question

[Tiffany Wee 2D]

Just making sure that I am understanding this correctly, the oxidizing agent in a reaction is being reduced and the reducing agent is being oxidized?

[Chem_Mod]

Yes you have this correct. The oxidizing agent is being reduced and the reducing agent is being oxidized.

Remember that oxidizing is losing electrons. The oxidizing agent is the reagent that is causing oxidation which means it is causing another reagent to lose electrons and takes those electrons, so its own charge is reduced (because it picks up the electrons).

The inverse of that is that reduction is gaining electrons (reduced in charge because electrons carry a -1 charge). The reducing agent is the reagent that is causing reduction which means it is causing another reagent to gain electrons, so its own charge increases (because it is donating those electrons).

Another helpful thing I learned in gen chem was the acronym: LAnOx GRedCat

This comes from the phrases:

Losing electrons at the Anode is Oxidation
Gaining electrons is Reduction at the Cathode

(it sounds silly but it's fairly helpful)

[Shruti Amin 1E]

Another phrase that might help you remember is

LEO says GER

Losing Electrons = oxidation.

Gaining Electrons = Reduction.

Hope this helps too!