What is the meaning and differences between oxidising power and reducing power?
In: Biology
A strong oxidizer oxidizes a reaction. A reduction-oxidation reaction (redox for short) involves the transfer of a negatively charged particle called an electron. When an oxidizer oxidizes a chemical, the oxidizer itself is reduced. They both occur simultaneously in any given reaction.
The easy way to remember which is happening to what material is to observe the movement of the charged particle. The easy way to remember is:
OIL RIG
Oxidation
Is
Loss (of an electron)
Reduction
Is
Gain (of an electron)
Lastly, if something has high oxidizing power, it is able to accept electrons very easily, thereby oxidizing the donor molecule. A strong oxidizer is generally dangerous when close to a reducing agent, because the resulting oxidation reaction is usually very rapid and energetic, resulting in an explosion.
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