Reducing agent
|
|
A reducing agent is a substance used in electrochemistry that reduces another substance. In doing so, it becomes oxidized. Another definition can be formulated as - a reduction agent is the electron donor in a oxidation-reduction reaction.
Reducing agents need to be protected from air because they react with oxygen.
Common reducing agents
- Ferrous ion
- Lithium aluminum hydride
- Nascent hydrogen
- Potassium ferricyanide
- Sodium amalgam
- Sodium borohydride
- Stannous ion
- Sulfite compounds
- Hydrazine
Common reducing agents and their products:
| Agent | Product |
|---|---|
| H2 Hydrogen | H+, H2O |
| metals | metal ions |
| C | CO2 carbon dioxide |
| hydrocarbons | CO2 carbon dioxide, H2O |