Higher Chemistry: Oxidising and Reducing Agents + Volumetric Analysis

What is reduction?

a gain of electrons by a reactant in any reaction

What is oxidation?

a loss of electrons by a reactant in any reaction

What is an oxidising agent?

a substance that accepts electrons

What is a reducing agent?

a substance that donates electrons

What do elements with low electronegativities tend to do?

form ions by losing electrons and so act as reducing agents

What do elements with high electronegativities tend to do?

form ions by gaining electrons and so act as oxidising agents

What group ,in the periodic table, are the strongest reducing agents in?

group 1

What group ,in the periodic table, are the strongest oxidising agents in?

group 7

Which molecule is an oxidising agent?

hydrogen peroxide

What are dichromate and permanganate ions?

group ions that are strong oxidising agents in acidic solutions

What gas can be used as a reducing agent?

carbon monoxide

What are oxidising agents used for?

they are used because of the effectiveness with which they can kill fungi and bacteria, and can inactivate viruses

What is the oxidation process also effective for?

breaking down coloured compounds, making oxidising agents ideal for use as 'bleach' for clothes and hair

What does the electrochemical series represent?

a series of reduction reactions

Where are the strongest oxidising agents of the electrochemical series?

at the bottom of the left-hand column

Where are the strongest reducing agents of the electrochemical series?

at the top of the right-hand column

How can an ion-electron equation be balanced?

by adding appropriate numbers of water molecules, hydrogen ions and electrons