Oxidizer
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An oxidizer, or oxidizing agent, is a compound that gains electrons easily(is easily reduced). For example, elemental fluorine can gain an electron to become a fluoride ion. They are so named because, upon being reduced, oxidizers readily oxidize other species, causing them to lose an electron.
Mechanism
Oxidizing agents are called electron acceptors, and participate in electron-transfer reactions.
Common oxidizing agents
- Free elements: Oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine.
- Interhalogens: Chlorine trifluoride, bromine monochloride;
- Nonmetal oxides: Ozone, sulfur trioxide, nitrous oxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine oxides, bromine oxides, iodine oxides;
- Metal oxides: Chromium trioxide, bismuth(III) oxide, sodium superoxide;
- Peroxides: Hydrogen peroxide, zinc peroxide, barium peroxide;
- Acids: Nitric acid, chloric acid, perchloric acid, peroxymonosulfuric acid, peroxydisulfuric acid, chromic acids;
- Salts: Nitrates, nitrites, hypochlorites, chlorites, chlorates, perchlorates, iodates, periodates, persulfates, chromates, dichromates, manganates, permanganates, ferrates;
- Mixtures: Aqua regia, piranha solution
