reducing agent
/ri'dju:siɳ'eidʤənt/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A substance that causes reduction: A chemical compound that donates electrons or adds hydrogen to another substance (the oxidizing agent) in a redox (oxidation-reduction) reaction. The reducing agent itself is oxidized in the process.
- A photographic chemical: A specific application where a reducing agent is used to decrease the density of a photographic negative or print by oxidizing some of the unbound metallic silver.
Usage
- General Chemistry Context: The term is used to identify the electron-donating species in a chemical reaction.
- In the reaction between iron and copper sulfate, iron is the reducing agent.
- Sodium borohydride is a common reducing agent in organic chemistry.
- Photography Context: Used to describe a chemical used in developing or toning processes.
- The photographer used a reducing agent to lighten the overexposed areas of the print.
Advanced Usage
- "Act as a reducing agent": To function in the capacity of donating electrons.
- Vitamin C can act as a reducing agent, protecting cells from oxidative damage.
- "Powerful/strong reducing agent": Describes a substance with a strong tendency to be oxidized (e.g., lithium, sodium, potassium).
- Lithium aluminum hydride is a powerful reducing agent used to reduce carbonyl groups.
- "Mild reducing agent": Describes a substance with a gentler reducing power (e.g., sodium sulfite, ascorbic acid).
- For this sensitive synthesis, a mild reducing agent like sodium dithionite is preferred.
Variants and Related Words
- Reducer (n): A synonym for "reducing agent," commonly used in chemistry and photography.
- This compound serves as an effective reducer.
- Reductant (n): A technical synonym for "reducing agent."
- In this equation, identify the reductant and the oxidant.
- Reducing (adj): Describing a substance or condition that causes reduction.
- The solution has reducing properties.
Synonyms
- Electron donor: A term emphasizing the electron-transfer mechanism.
- Reducer: A common shorter synonym.
Antonyms
- Oxidizing agent (n): A substance that accepts electrons and causes oxidation.
- Oxidant (n): A technical synonym for "oxidizing agent."
Related Phrases
- Redox reaction (n): Short for reduction-oxidation reaction, the type of reaction involving a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent.
- The corrosion of iron is a classic redox reaction.
- Reduction potential (n): A quantitative measure of a substance's tendency to act as a reducing agent.
- A substance with a very negative reduction potential is a strong reducing agent.
Noun
- a substance capable of bringing about the reduction of another substance as it itself is oxidized; used in photography to lessen the density of a negative or print by oxidizing some of the loose silver