Core
Reactions: Redox
Slide 25 of 42
Oxidizing and
Reducing Agents
There are more
complex redox reactions than the simple combination and displacement
reactions we considered thus far.
Complex redox
reaction involve what are referred to as common oxidixing and reducing
agents.
As you know,
oxidizing agents therefore are substances that readily accept electrons
and reducing agents readily donate electrons
Therefore, oxidizing
agents contain elements that are in their highest oxidation state.
–Two
common oxidizing agents in the laboratory are MnO4- (KMnO4-) and Cr2O72- (K2Cr2O7).
–Some
other oxidizing agents are: O2, Cl2, F2,
SO3 (SO42- in
solution), Fe3+, ClO3- (KClO3),
and NO3- (KNO3).
Reducing agents
on the other hand contain elements in their lower oxidation state.
–Some
common reducing agents are H2, Na, C, CO, SO2 (SO32- in solution), Fe2+,
NO2- and I-.