Using oxidizing chemicals can be a simple or complex process depending on the oxidizing and reducing agents. For simple reactions, a basic understanding of chemical reducing agents will suffice. But for the more complex reactions, it becomes necessary for advanced training or education in order to ensure safety.

Oxidizing and reducing agents education and training can prepare you for a career in biochemistry or organic chemistry. Here are a few of the venues for education on the topic:

1. Online resources that provide a basic understanding of oxidizing and reducing agents;

2. Classes that give an overview of the topic and focus on more complex elements of chemistry;

3. And research journals that provide new insight into chemical reducers.

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Take classes on chemical reducing agents that cover the basics

When you mix a common reducing agent with a common oxidizing agent, the results are fairly straightforward. Technical information on the basics of chemical reducing agents can help you understand the reducing process. It can also help you identify the common oxidizing and reducing agents.

I recommend: The Organic Chemistry Portal provides a list of common oxidizing agents. Click on the links to find out more information about each agent. Thermo Fisher Scientific provides a list of common reducing agents and provides a description for each.

Use online resources for learning about oxidizing chemicals

Many high schools offer advanced chemistry classes that offer education on oxidizing and reducing agents. If you missed this opportunity, don't worry. There are a variety of websites that offer information on the topic. In some cases, you can get advanced training through the Internet.

I recommend: UniversalClass provides an online course in Chemistry 101. It devotes a lesson specifically on the oxidation-reduction reaction. Review the syllabus for Chemistry 143: A Survey of Organic Chemistry, offered at Michigan State University, to determine whether a college course could help you gain the education you need. The website also offers a link for additional resources on organic chemistry.

Keep up to date on information for oxidizing chemicals with journals or professional studies

Biochemistry and organic chemistry are evolving fields. You can gain education and information on new research for a high-potential reducing agent by reading journals or professional studies devoted to the industry. In some cases, you can use research from another field to gain new insight in yours.

I recommend: Read the abstract on the inhibitory actions of oxidizing agents on calcium as they pertain to the human retina in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. The Journal of Biochemistry offers an abstract on the effects of reducing and oxidizing agents on bleomycin.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Reducing agents, like a metal reducing agent, can have specific properties that affect oxidizing chemicals in predictable ways. Learn the basic properties before you begin experimenting with chemical agents.

Oxidizing chemicals and reducing agents have a wide range of uses from food preparation to medical research. A general definition of an oxidizing agent is a chemical in which one of the elements has gained an electron. For example, a fire is fueled by organic material mixed with oxygen as the oxidizing agent. Common oxidizing agents include peroxides, chlorates, perchlorates, nitrates, and permanganates.

Chemical reducing agents are generally defined as any chemical in which one of the elements loses an electron. Hydrocarbons and their derivatives which are alcohols, greases, oils and organic acids, metals and many metal salts, ammonia and ammonium salts and carbons can each be considered a common reducing agent. Extreme reactions or even explosions can occur when oxidizing or reducing agents are combined.

There are three main applications for oxidizing and reducing agents:

1. An oxidizing reducing agent for use in a bakery
2. A high potential reducing agent for industrial applications
3. Oxidizing and reducing agents for laboratory or medical research use
   

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Find suppliers of oxidizing agents within the food industry

Dough conditioners are used in the baking industry to improve yeast growth, decrease the amount of time required for dough to rise and increase malleability of the dough for machine use. The ingredients include oxidizing and reducing agents, emulsifiers, and enzymes.

I recommend: Though bromate salts have been the standard oxidizing agent used in dough conditioners, questions have arisen regarding their safety. Watson is leading the way towards healthier oxidizing agents with their bromate-free dough conditioner line. Cain Food Industries offers a customization service with their lab and test bakery that can help formulate to your exact product need and pack it conveniently for use.

Supply your industrial firm with metal reducing agents or oxidizing chemicals

Oxidizing and reducing agents are used in many different types of industrial processes. Some suppliers specialize in the production directed towards a specific market, others offer a full range of chemicals and services to industry in general.

I recommend: BrüggemannChemical is a leading provider of both oxidizing and reducing agents to the emulsion polymerization market, the rubber industry, the textile industry, and the personal care markets. Montchem specializes in the production of reducing agents based on Sodium Borohydride (NaBH4) which is used in the textile, paper, pharmaceuticals, agricultural, metal recovery, and industrial wastewater purification.

Locate suppliers to furnish your medical research firm with oxidizing and reducing agents

If you specialize in a specific medical research field, you'll want to focus your search for a supplier who gears their product towards that same field. On the other hand, if your lab simply uses chemicals to perform medical testing for doctors to relay to patients, a general medical chemical supplier should suit your needs.

I recommend: LabChem offers everything you need to conduct medical tests on samples. In order to purchase from their online catalog, click on the "Request an Account" link and register. Thermo Scientific specializes in the production of reducing agents specifically geared towards use in the biotechnology, diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Incompatible oxidizing and reducing agents should never be mixed or even stored together. For example, a common household mistake is mixing ammonia with bleach which results in the production of toxic chloramines. In this chemical reaction, ammonia is the reducing agent and bleach (sodium hypochlorite) is the oxidizing agent.

An oxidizing agent is a compound that releases oxygen atoms to gain electrons in a chemical reaction. This agent undergoes reduction in the process. A reducing agent, on the other hand, removes oxygen from another substance, gains hydrogen, gives away electrons and gets oxidized in the reaction. Both terms often are used in relation to metal and chemicals.

Understanding technical terms related to reducing and oxidizing agents is a confusing task. This guide intends to explain key terms that you will hear from suppliers of oxidizing and reducing agents.

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Oxidation and reduction

Oxidation refers to a process when a molecule or an atom loses electrons in a reaction. In a reduction process, a molecule or atom gains electrons. Oxidation and reduction are complementary reactions.

I recommend: Understand the basics of oxidation and reduction processes at ILPI (Interactive Learning Paradigms Incorporated), an informative website.

Corrosion

Oxidizing and reducing agents are responsible for corrosion. Corrosion refers to degradation of metals owing to electrochemical activity. In corrosion, oxidation occurs at an anode and reduction occurs at a cathode when there is a difference in the oxidation potential.

I recommend: You can read through basic information about corrosion at Corrosionist.com, an online resource that provides information about corrosion prevention and control techniques.

Halogens

Halogens are elements from a similar group in the periodic table. Members of the halogen group include fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine. Halogens act as strong oxidizing agents.

I recommend: To get further information on halogens, read through the information at Science Clarified, an informative resource on scientific topics.

Chemical compounds

In an oxidation-reduction process, chemical compounds serve as agents. Chemical compounds consist of two or more bonded elements and the nature of the compound depends upon the ratio and types of elements bonding together.

I recommend: You can learn more about chemical compounds at wiseGEEK, a useful online resource.

Electrons

Oxidation and reduction processes involve gain and loss of oxygen and hydrogen electrons.

I recommend: If you want to learn more about electrons, you can browse through the information at Knowledgerush, a comprehensive online resource.

Oxidation numbers

An oxidation number (also called oxidation state) indicates the number of electrons that will leave an element, or the number of electrons that an element gains in a chemical reaction.

I recommend: To learn more about oxidation states, you can read through information at Chemguide, an online resource that provides information about various chemical products and processes.