Reducing Agent

Definition

A reducing agent is any element or compound that donates or transfers electrons to another reactant in a redox chemical reaction, thereby being oxidized itself.

Related terms

Oxidizing Agent:

This is a substance that accepts electrons from another substance during a redox reaction, causing the other substance to be oxidized.

Reduction Potential:

This measures the tendency of a chemical species to acquire electrons and thereby be reduced.

Electronegativity:

This is a measure of how strongly atoms attract bonding electrons to themselves. In redox reactions, atoms with higher electronegativity often act as oxidizing agents.