What is an oxidizing agent
Oxidizerknown as an oxidizing agent, is a substance that causes oxidation in other substances in electrochemical or reduction and oxidation reactions.
An oxidizing element or oxidizing agent It is one that reaches a stable energy state as a result of the oxidant being reduced and gaining electrons. Likewise, the oxidizing agent causes the oxidation of the reducing agent generating the loss of electrons from the substance and, therefore, it is oxidized in the process.
The redox potential It is a measure of electron activity as it indicates the strength of an oxidant in a substance, specifically, the gain or loss of electrons. The redox potential is related to and analogous to PH since it measures the activity of protons, unlike the redox potential which is responsible for electrons.
On the other hand, the reducing atmosphere It is characterized by not containing significant amounts of free oxygen and other gases or vapors, thus avoiding oxidation. The reducing atmosphere is composed of reductants or molecules with hydrogen atoms such as ammonium and methane, capable of reducing other molecules. In reference to this point, evolutionists indicate that the primitive atmosphere did not contain oxygen, that is, it is a reducing atmosphere.
In contrast to the above, the oxidizing atmosphere It is one that contains free oxygen and other compounds in oxidized states.
oxidation It is a combination of oxygen with other substances. Likewise, there are different types of oxidation, slow and fast. Rapid oxidation It occurs during a chemical reaction known as combustion, generating heat and considerable temperatures and flames, in turn, slow oxidation It is characterized because the energy produced is dissipated in the environment, for example: respiration, corrosion of metals, photosynthesis, among others.
Likewise, oxidizing substances are those whose purpose is to change the color of the hair, such as hydrogen peroxide, or to eliminate some substances that contaminate certain media.
Some more common or known oxidants or agents are: hypochlorite, iodine, chlorite, peroxides, sulfoxides, ozone, nitric acid, etc.
Lastly, I recommend reading the oxidation article.
Photochemical oxidants
Photochemical oxidants They are polluting substances formed by nitrogen oxide gases and fuels that are incompletely burned. These substances are called photochemicals since they are activated by sunlight, as indicated by their name “photo” means “light.
Photochemical oxidants are related to atmospheric pollution and phenomena such as smog.