What is Oxidizing agent?
'''Oxidizing agent''' can have two meanings. It can be a [[chemical]] that releases [[oxygen]] [[atom]]s.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_DKKtUx5uo4C&dq=oxidizing+agent+release+oxygen&pg=PA250|title=Milady Standard Cosmetology 2012|last=Milady|date=2011-02-22|publisher=Cengage Learning|isbn=978-1-4390-5930-2|location=|pages=250|language=en}}</ref> For example, [[potassium chlorate]] has a [[chemical formula]] of KClO<sub>3</sub>. When it [[oxidation|oxidizes]] a [[reducing agent]], such as [[powder]]ed [[aluminium]] [[metal]], it loses its oxygen to the aluminium and becomes [[potassium chloride]], KCl. Another [[definition]] is a chemical that accepts [[electron]]s from a reducing agent.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XADuAj-w_2AC&dq=oxidizing+agent+meaning&pg=PA40|title=Bio-Assays for Oxidative Stress Status|last=Pryor|first=W. A.|date=2012-12-02|publisher=Elsevier|isbn=978-0-08-092992-7|location=|pages=40|language=en}}</ref> For example, [[potassium permanganate]] has an [[oxidation state]] of +7. In an [[acid]] [[solution]], it gains 5 electrons (e<sup>-</sup>). It becomes a [[manganese]] [[Chemical compound|compound]] with an [[oxidation]] state of +2. Most oxidizing agents of the second definition have oxygen, but not all. For example, [[fluorine]] (F<sub>2</sub>) does not have any oxygen in it. It is also the most powerful oxidizing agent. When it acts as an oxidizing agent, it gains an [[electron]] to transfer from an oxidation state of 0 to an oxidation state of -1. ==Examples== *[[Fluorine]] *[[Chlorine]] *[[Potassium nitrate]] *[[Nitric acid]] *[[Potassium chlorate]] ==Related pages== *[[Oxidation]] *[[Reduction (chemistry)|Reduction]] *[[Reducing agent]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Physical chemistry]]