Reducing Agent - Definition, Examples, FAQs

What is a reducing agent?

Reducing agent meaning/reductant meaning: A substance that loses electrons goes to other materials in response to redox and then gets oxidized in the form of high valency is called a reducing agent. A substance that loses electrons goes to other materials in response to redox and then gets oxidized in the form of high valency is called a reducing agent. The reducing agent is one of the oxidation-reduction reaction reactants that degrades another reactant by delivering electrons to the reactant.

If the reducing agent does not transfer electrons to another object in response, the reduction process is not possible. Reduction agent (reduction), loses electrons and is attached to the chemical reaction. It is usually in one of its low oxidation conditions and is known as an electron donor. The degrading agent is oxidized because it loses electrons in the redox reaction. A reducing agent is a substance which can lose its electrons. The best reducing agent is one of the oxidation-reduction reaction reactants that degrades another reactant by delivering electrons to the reactant. If the reducing nature does not transfer electrons to another object in response, the reduction process is not possible.

Also read -

• NCERT Solutions for Class 11 Chemistry
• NCERT Solutions for Class 12 Chemistry
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Reducing agent examples

Typical reducing agent examples of reducers are listed below:

Sodium -Na

Iron-Fe

Zinc- Zn

All also non-metals such as C, S, H₂.

Hydracids such as HCl, HBr, H₂S,HI,etc

Formic acid

Sulfite compounds

Reducing agents Features

Reducing agents tend to supply electrons. The s-block tools on the table these days are said to be good reducing agents.

The reducing agent after the loss of electrons gets oxidized and also responds to the opposing reaction by supplying electrons.

All reducing elements have atoms with low electronegativity and a good ability of the atom or molecule to attract bonding electrons with very low ionization potential.

Weak Reducing agents Vs Strong Reducing agent

When the reducing agent is strong, the weaker is the corresponding oxidizing agent. Fluorine gas is known as a strong oxidizing agent and F- is said to be a weakening agent. We also know that - if the acid is weak then strong it is the basis of conjugate. Similarly, if an oxidizing agent is weaker than a strong one it is a corresponding reducing agent

Mitigation Agent Reducing agent example

Other common mitigation agents include metals such as Na, Fe, Zn, Al and metals such as C, S, H₂. Some chemicals and various hydracids such as HCl,HBr, H₂S, HI act as good reducing agents. A brief description of some of the mitigation agents is given below-

Lithium - Lithium is a chemical substance with a 3 atomic number and a Li sign. It looks like a soft and white metal and belongs to the group of alkali metal on the table of days. It is said to be a powerful mitigation method when applied to solutions.

Iodides - Iodide salts are said to be mild pills. They respond with oxygen to provide iodine. These have various antioxidant properties.

Lowering sugar - Lowering sugar is those who behave in the same way as reducing agents due to the free ketone group or free aldehyde group present. All monosaccharides and disaccharides, polysaccharides, oligosaccharides are said to reduce sugar.

What is Reduction?

Reducing the chemical process that can be described in terms of four ideas -

About oxygen transfer

About electron transfer

About hydrogen transfer

Depending on the number of oxidation

Reduced by oxygen transfer - Reduced loss of oxygen.

Reduction by electron transfer - Reduction is an advantage of electrons.

In the example above, each oxygen atom acquires two electrons and forms two O-2 anions. Therefore, oxygen is reduced and reduced.

Hydrogen transfer - Reduction can be defined as hydrogen gain.

Reduction depending on the number of oxidation - Reduction decreases the state of oxidation or the number of oxidation of the atom in the reaction.

In the example above the chlorine level decreases from 0 to -1. Therefore, reduction is possible and chlorine is reduced.

Also Read:

• NCERT solutions for Class 11 Chemistry Chapter 8 Redox Reaction
• NCERT Exemplar Class 11 Chemistry Solutions Chapter 8 Redox Reaction
• NCERT notes Class 11 Chemistry Chapter 8 Redox Reaction

What is the Redox reaction?

A chemical reaction involving electron transfer or a change in the number of oxidation atoms is called a redox reaction. In redox oxidation and decomposition occurs simultaneously. Connectivity and disconnection cannot occur independently of each other.

Cellular respiration - In respiration glucose reacts with oxygen and builds carbon dioxide and water and releases energy stored in cells. Glucose enters carbon dioxide through the loss of hydrogens while oxygen is reduced in water through the release of hydrogens.

Heat - Heat is a painful chemical expulsion that occurs when it is too hot and there is an oxidant. Methane burns when there is oxygen and provides strong carbon dioxide and water.

Oxidizing Agent and reducing agent in Redox response

Let’s understand oxidizing and reducing agents by taking the example of a redox reaction. When aluminium reacts with iron oxide in the presence of heat, it provides aluminum oxide and molten iron. It is a redox reaction. The response is given below-

2Al(s) + Fe₂O₃(s) + Al₂O₃(s) + 2Fe(l)

If you count the oxidation number Al and see it increase from 0 to +3, then oxidation is possible. Now if you count it with a metal and see that its decrease from +3 to 0, it means that a decrease is possible. You can see as Al reduces Fe₂O₃ by removing its oxygen atoms, so it means aluminum reduces the agent. While Fe₂O₃ binds Al by providing oxygen to it so it means that Fe₂O₃ acts as an oxidizing agent. In the conversion of redox the reducing agent constantly converts it into its conjugating agent for oxidizing to oxidation - reducing the reaction. Given that the above reaction is advanced, it therefore means that Al is a potent reducing agent and Fe₂O₃ is a potent agent for connecting over metal and Al₂O₃ respectively.

Also check-

• NCERT Exemplar Class 11th Chemistry Solutions
• NCERT Exemplar Class 12th Chemistry Solutions
• NCERT Exemplar Solutions for All Subjects

NCERT Chemistry Notes:

• NCERT Notes Class 11th Chemistry
• NCERT Notes Class 12th Chemistry
• NCERT Notes For All Subjects