Oxidizing agent, definition

Depending on the context, oxidation can either refer to (a) a reaction in which oxygen combines chemically with another substance or (b) any reaction in which electrons are transferred. For the latter definition, oxidation and reduction always occur simultaneously (redox reactions), and the substance that gains electrons is termed the oxidizing agent. Electrons might also be displaced within a molecule without being completely transferred away from it. 

More generally, an oxidizer is any oxidizing agent. See definition for oxidation. 

Thus, a reducing agent donates electrons, while an oxidizing agent receives them. The Bronsted-Lowry definitions of acid and base specify that... 

In Preparation 3-8, use is made of a reagent containing 94 % lead tetraacetate and 6 % acetic acid. If the dry, powdered oxidizing agent is used, the reaction solution must be cooled to —40°C or lower before its addition if comparable results are to be obtained. Yields are definitely reduced if the reaction time is prolonged much beyond 10 sec, and if the steam distillation is not completed within a very short time. For this reason this preparation is probably suitable only if small quantities of product are desired. Yields vary from modest to good for the preparation of nitrosobenzene, p-nitrosotoluene, and p-nitroso-chlorobenzene. An attempt to prepare nitrosocyclohexane by this method did not lead to identifiable products. 

Oxygen in the air is now a sufficiently strong (and cheap ) oxidizing agent to effect the solution of the gold. It may then be reduced and precipitated by an active metal such as zinc powder (E° - -0.763 V). Such hydrometalluigica] processes offer definite advantages ... 

Before we review the methods used to determine surface acidity, we wish to define the type of acidity that should be measured. An acid is an electron-pair acceptor. In our opinion, the term acid should be limited to this definition rather than broadening the term to include oxidizing agents as well. We agree with Flockhart and Pink (10) who suggest a clear distinction be made between Lewis acid-Lewis base reactions (which involve coordinate bond formation) and oxidation-reduction reactions (which involve complete transfer of one or more electrons). 

The time required for a definite small amount of iodate to be consumed will be measured by determining the time required for the iodine produced by the reaction (as I3) to oxidize a definite amount of a reducing agent, arsenious acid, added at the beginning of the experiment. Under the conditions of the experiment, arsenious acid does not react directly with iodate at a significant rate but reacts with iodine as quickly as it is formed. When the arsenious acid has been completely consumed, free iodine is liberated, which produces a blue color with a small amount of soluble starch that is present. Since the blue color appears rather suddenly after a reproducible period of time, this series of reactions is commonly known as the iodine clock reaction. 

It is seen from the definition that equal volumes of a solution of an oxidizing agent and a solution of a reducing agent with the same normality react exactly with each other. 

The tri-chlorine substitution product of methane is the common and very important anesthetic chloroform. It may be made by the method referred to, viz., by the direct chlorination of methane. This method is not, however, a practical one. The industrial preparation is from alcohol or acetone, by treatment with chlorine and an alkali. In the reaction with alcohol the chlorine acts, first, as an oxidizing agent, oxidizing the alcohol to aldehyde. The chlorine then acts as a substituting agent forming a tri-chlorine substitution product of the aldehyde. This tri-chlor aldehyde is then decomposed by the alkali and chloroform results. The steps in this reaction have been definitely proven, as follows ... 

You are given the ions in the reaction. Using this information, you must determine the electron transfers that take place. Then you can apply the definitions of oxidizing agent and reducing agent to answer the question. 

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