Reducing Agent

A reducing agent is a chemical that gives up electrons. It gives up electrons to the oxidizing agent. The oxidizing agent is reduced when it gets the electrons, and the reducing agent is oxidized. Many reducing agents cannot stay in air because they give up electrons to the oxygen in the air. Strong reducing agents give up their electrons very easily.

Examples[edit]

• Zinc
• Lithium corrodes in air in a few seconds
• Tin(II) oxide
• Gasoline