Talk:Reducing agent

Contradiction[edit]

this section seems to contradict itself. hydrogen acts as an oxidizing agent with Li, a metal. but maybe the meaning is more complex than i can see?

Also, some elements and compounds can be both reducing or oxidizing agents. Hydrogen gas is a reducing agent when it reacts with non-metals and an oxidizing agent when it reacts with metals.

2Li(s) + H2(g) -->2LiH(s) acts as a reducing agent

H2(g) + F2(g) --> 2HF(g) acts as an oxidizing agent

i hope a chemist will check it or add an explanation.

142.104.250.115 22:06, 25 April 2006 (UTC)substatique[reply]

No, this section does not contradict itself. In the lithium equation, diatomic hydrogen goes from a 0 oxidation state on the left side of the arrow and on the right side hydrogen's oxidation number is -1. This indicates that hydrogen gained one electron and thusly hydrogen acts as the oxidizing reagent, because it is reduced (gained electrons) and causes Lithium to lose electrons. --Morgan 05:09, 7 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Conversly in the fluorine equation, diatomic hydrogen donates 2 electrons to fluorine, which makes hydrogen a reducing agent because it causes fluorine to be reduced.--Morgan 06:00, 7 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]

If I was taught correctly, the cathode is the reducing agent and is the oxidized ion and anode is the oxidizing agent. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 74.251.16.206 (talk) 04:52, 13 May 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Groups of reducing agents[edit]

The list had some emphasis on organic synthesis. Additional reductants are important in inorganic chemistry, analytical chemistry, pyrometallurgy, metallurgy etc. Some type of grouping based on use, nature of the agent, reaction conditions etc would be useful although one agent may fall into different groups. Reducing agents (fuels) in pyrochemistry and metallurgy should perhaps be treated separately.150.227.15.253 (talk) 12:19, 5 August 2016 (UTC)[reply]

Awkward and Unclear Writing makes it Difficult to Convey Scientific Information[edit]

For example: "To tell which is the strongest reducing agent, one can change the sign of its respective reduction potential to make it oxidation potential. The bigger the number, the stronger the reducing agent." I can understand this, because I am knowledgable of the subject, but numbers should have magnitude, and instead of changing sign, simply say "absolute value." So, "The greater the magnitude of the reduction potential, the stronger the reducing agent."

Another example: "Reducing agents and oxidizing agents are the ones responsible for corrosion..." I have no idea how to rewrite this, but you can leave out "are the ones," and the word "responsible" is loaded with anthropomorphic connotations that should be avoided in a scholarly article.

I think the basic content of the page is good; it is a somewhat difficult topic to write on with reductants, reducing agents, etc. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 67.135.16.162 (talk) 22:47, 12 September 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Importance_of_reducing_and_oxidizing_agents[edit]

In this section it says, "Corrosion requires an anode and cathode to take place. The anode is an element ..." How could such things have ever been written? 138.89.187.152 (talk) 02:30, 3 May 2010 (UTC)[reply]