Question

Explain reducing agent briefly with examples. No spam is allowed.

Answer 1

Reducing agent in a chemical reaction is one which gives oxygen or gains hydrogen.

Answer 2

A reducing agent is one that reduces other substances either by providing electrons, or by providing hydrogen or an electropositive ion, or by removing oxygen or an electronegative ion.

2FeCl₃ + H₂S -----> 2FeCl₂ + 2HCl +S

Ferric chloride is reduced to ferrous chloride by loss of in Cl⁻.

Thus, in the above examples (given in reduction), hydrogen sulphide is the reducing agents.

Some examples of reducing agents are_

(i) Solid: Carbon, metals like Zn, Al, Cu and Na, stannous chloride, glucose etc.

(ii) Liquid: Hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen iodide, hydrogen bromide, etc.

(iii) Gaseous: Hydrogen sulphide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, ammonia, etc.