Common oxidising agents

Oxidising and reducing agents are of great importance in industry, around the home and in the
laboratory.
Name and
formula
Oxygen gas

Chlorine gas

Uses
occurs naturally making up ______ % of the Earth's
atmosphere. ln the environment, it is used by all living things
as the oxidising agent in the cellular process of
_______________________. As well as this, it is the
oxidising agent involved metaI _____________________
and ______________________________ of fuels, ie fires.
used extensively for drinking water purification
as a bleach and as a disinfectant for destroying bacteria,

Permanganate
ion

Dichromate ion

Soluble salts containing the ________________ ion (eg

KMnO4) are excellent secondary standards for analytical
laboratory work involving redox titrations. ln acid solutions, the
__________ permanganate ions (MnO 4-) are reduced to
almost colourless ___________(ll) ions (Mn2-).
Soluble salts like K2Cr2O7 are used as oxidising agents in
various laboratory and industrial processes. ln acid solutions,
the __________ dichromate ions are readily reduced to
green ________________(lll) ions (Cr3-).

Hypochlorite ion Solutions of sodium hypochlorite (__________ ) are used as

an oxidising agent for bleaching, disinfecting and in drinking
water treatment. Swimming pool chlorine contains about 30%
calcium hypochlorite _______________
Hydrogen ion

Concentrated
sulfuric acid

Acids like hydrochloric acid are a major source of hydrogen

ion in aqueous solution. As an oxidising agent the hydrogen
ion (H+) becomes reduced to ______________________
___________
This contains the oxidising agent H+(aq) as well as the stronger
oxidising agent ___________ or _____________ lt is able to
oxidise copper, a metal which cannot be oxidised by H +(aq)
alone. ln this reaction concentrated H2SO4(aq) is reduced to
sulfur dioxide gas (SO2).

Concentrated
nitric acid

Very strong oxidising agent. It is able to dissolve the low

reactivity metals; copper, silver and mercury which are not
oxidised by H+(aq) alone. The reduction of nitric acid (HNO3)
produces mainly brown _______________________ gas
(________). Some nitrogen monoxide (NO) may also be
formed.
Common reducing agents

Name and
formula

Uses

Zinc metal

Used as a reducing agent in the laboratory and in industry. Used

for ______________________ iron, its strong reducing properties prevent iron
from being oxidised in the rusting process. When oxidised, zinc (Zn) is converted
to ____________________________

Hydrogen gas

Hydrogen gas is used as a reducing agent in the extraction of

nickel metal from its ores. Once oxidised it forms ________________ ions _____
(aq). Liquid hydrogen is the fuel (reductant) used along with liquid oxygen (oxidant)
in the operation of the main Space Shuttle engines.

Carbon solid

Carbon is the reducing agent (specifically CO) used in the extraction of iron from
iron ore. Once oxidised it forms _____________________ gas (_______).

Iron(II) ions

lron(ll) is the reducing agent in the primary standard ammonium iron(ll) sulfate-5water [(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.5H2O]. Used in redox titrations, the iron(ll) ions (Fe 2+) are
oxidised to _______________ ions, (_______)

Oxalate ions

Oxalate ion is the reducing agent in the redox primary standard

oxalic acid-2-hydrate (H2C20 4.2H2O). In redox titrations, the colourless oxalate ion,
C2O42- is oxidised to ____________________ (________).

Common oxidising agents

Oxidising and reducing agents are of great importance in industry, around the home and in the
laboratory.
Name and
formula

Uses

Oxygen gas

occurs naturally making up 21% of the Earth's atmosphere. ln the environment, it

is used by all living things as the oxidising agent in the cellular process of
respiration. As well as this, it is the oxidising agent involved metaI corrosion and
combustion of fuels, ie fires.

Chlorine gas

used extensively for drinking water purification

as a bleach and as a disinfectant for destroying bacteria,

Permanganate
ion
MnO4--(aq)

Soluble salts containing the permanganate ion (eg KMnO 4) are excellent
secondary standards for analytical laboratory work involving redox titrations. ln
acid solutions, the purple permanganate ions (MnO 4-) are reduced to almost
colourless manganese(ll) ions (Mn2-).

Dichromate ion
Cr2O72-(aq)

Soluble salts like K2Cr2O7 are used as oxidising agents in various laboratory and
industrial processes. ln acid solutions, the orange dichromate ions are readily
reduced to green chromium(lll) ions (Cr3-).

Hypochlorite ion Solutions of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) are used as an oxidising agent for
ClO-(aq)
bleaching, disinfecting and in drinking water treatment. Swimming pool chlorine
contains about 30% calcium hypochlorite Ca(ClO) 2
Hydrogen ion
H+(aq)

Acids like hydrochloric acid are a major source of hydrogen ion in aqueous
solution. As an oxidising agent the hydrogen ion (H +) becomes reduced to
hydrogen gas (Hz).

Concentrated
sulfuric acid
H2SO4(aq)

This contains the oxidising agent H+(aq) as well as the stronger oxidising agent
HSO- or SO42-. lt is able to oxidise copper, a metal which cannot be oxidised by H +
(aq) alone. ln this reaction concentrated H 2SO4(aq) is reduced to sulfur dioxide gas
(SO2).

Concentrated
nitric acid
HNO3(aq)

very strong oxidising agent. lt is able to dissolve the low reactivity metals; copper,
silver and mercury which are not oxidised by H+(aq) alone. The reduction of nitric
acid (HNO3) produces mainly brown nitrogen dioxide gas (N0 2). Some nitrogen
monoxide (NO) may also be formed.

Common reducing agents

Name and
formula

Uses

Zinc metal Zn(s)

Used as a reducing agent in the laboratory and in industry. Used for galvanising
iron, its strong reducing properties prevent iron from being oxidised in the rusting
proress. When oxidised, zinc (Zn) is converted to zinc(ll) ions (Zn 2-).

Hydrogen gas
H2(g)

Hydrogen gas is used as a reducing agent in the extraction of

nickel metal from its ores. Once oxidised it forms hydrogen ions H +(aq). Liquid
hydrogen is the fuel (reductant) used along with liquid oxygen (oxidant) in the
operation of the main Space Shuttle engines.

Carbon solid C

Carbon is the reducing agent (specifically CO) used in the extraction of iron from
iron ore. Once oxidised it forms carbon dioxide gas (CO2).

(s)

Iron(II) ions Fe2+

(aq)

Oxalate ions
C2O42- (aq)

lron(ll) is the reducing agent in the primary standard ammonium iron(ll) sulfate-5water [(NH4)2Fe(SO4)2.5H2O]. Used in redox titrations, the iron(ll) ions (Fe 2+) are
oxidised to iron(lll) ions, Fe3+
Oxalate ion is the reducing agent in the redox primary standard oxalic acid-2hydrate (H2C20 4.2H20).ln redox titrations, the colourless oxalate ion, C2O42- is
oxidised to carbon dioxide gas (CO2).