How do you rank oxidizing agents

The permanganate ion removes electrons from oxalic acid molecules and thereby oxidizes the oxalic acid. Thus, the MnO 4 - ion acts as an oxidizing agent in this reaction. Oxalic acid, on the other hand, is a reducing agent in this reaction. Atoms, ions, and molecules that have an unusually large affinity for electrons tend to be good oxidizing agents. Elemental fluorine, for example, is the strongest common oxidizing agent. F 2 is such a good oxidizing agent that metals, quartz, asbestos, and even water burst into flame in its presence.

Other good oxidizing agents include O 2 , O 3 , and Cl 2 , which are the elemental forms of the second and third most electronegative elements, respectively. Another place to look for good oxidizing agents is among compounds with unusually large oxidation states, such as the permanganate MnO 4 - , chromate CrO 4 2- , and dichromate Cr 2 O 7 2- ions, as well as nitric acid HNO 3 , perchloric acid HClO 4 , and sulfuric acid H 2 SO 4.

These compounds are strong oxidizing agents because elements become more electronegative as the oxidation states of their atoms increase. The species at the top left have the greatest "potential" to be reduced, so they are the strongest oxidizing agents. How do you rank oxidizing agents? Chemistry Electrochemistry Oxidation and Reduction Reactions.

Ernest Z. Aug 16, You rank oxidizing agents according to their standard reduction potentials. There may be some situations in which an aqueous oxidizing agent is undesirable or difficult to remove after the oxidation process, however.

Furthermore, there may be situations in which hydrogen peroxide is not powerful enough to fully oxidize the target. Ozone O3 is a powerful oxidizing agent in its gaseous state, boasting an oxidizing potential of 2.

When used with the correct precautions, ozone is the go-to choice for industrial applications requiring an extremely powerful and gas-phase oxidizing agent.

But, ozone is very expensive to purchase and requires fastidious caution to use or to store, making it poorly-suited for tasks which could be accomplished with another oxidizing agent. Fluorine F2 is one of the most powerful and most versatile oxidizing agents, with an oxidizing potential of 3. For applications requiring the very strongest of oxidizing agents in either the liquid or the gas phase, fluorine is the only choice.

Many atoms and molecules react explosively with fluorine with minimal provocation, including ubiquitous molecules like carbon dioxide. Common elements in organic molecules like carbon, nitrogen, and ammonia will also react explosively under a broad array of molecular conditions.

While the above list of oxidizing agents is only a small subset of the massive number of commercially available chemicals which can fulfill similar roles, many laboratories may still struggle to choose the appropriate oxidizing agent for their needs, especially when their needs are non-traditional.

When labs work with a qualified supplier who is familiar with their industrial or their research needs, keeping the engine of innovation humming is easier than ever before. For over 40 years, Lab Pro has been committed to providing oxidizing agents in California.

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