What is the Difference Between Oxidizing Agent and Reducing Agent?

The main difference between an oxidizing agent and a reducing agent lies in their roles in a redox (oxidation-reduction) reaction.

An oxidizing agent is a substance that:

• Causes oxidation by accepting electrons
• Gets reduced in the process
• Examples include halogens, potassium nitrate, and nitric acid

A reducing agent is a substance that:

• Causes reduction by losing electrons
• Gets oxidized in the process
• Examples include earth metals, formic acid, and sulfite compounds

To summarize, the oxidizing agent is the substance that is reduced, while the reducing agent is the substance that is oxidized in a redox reaction. Both the oxidizing and reducing agents are the reactants in the reaction.

Comparative Table: Oxidizing Agent vs Reducing Agent

Here is a table comparing the differences between oxidizing agents and reducing agents:

An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes another substance to lose electrons, while a reducing agent is a substance that causes another substance to gain electrons. In a redox reaction, an element that is oxidized is a reducing agent because it loses electrons, and an element that is reduced is an oxidizing agent because it gains electrons.