how does oxidation-reduction work and what is a “reducing agent”?
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The mnemonic I was taught was “LEO the lion goes GER”: Lose Electrons, Oxidized; Gain Electrons, Reduced.
A reduction-oxidation reaction or redox reaction is one where there is an exchange of electrons between species. One species gains electrons, which means it has been reduced, while the other species loses electrons, which means it has been oxidized. Since they are almost always paired, they are called redox reactions.
A reducing agent is something that reduces something else, which means it is something that tends to get oxidized or lose electrons. It is also called an electron donor, for that reason.
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