Oxidant is the word that means a agent or substance responsible for causing oxidation.
An oxidizing element is one that achieves a more stable energy state through the gain of electrons. The oxidizing agent causes oxidation (loss of electrons from a substance) of the reducing agent, taking some of its electrons.
The redox potential indicates the strength of an oxidant on a given substrate, that is, its ability to lose or gain electrons. The oxidation number (NOX) of an oxidizing agent decreases.
Some better known oxidizing agents are: iodine, potassium permanganate, nitric acid, etc.
Oxidizing substances are also widely used to change the color of hair, such as hydrogen peroxide, for example. There are also oxidants that aim to eliminate substances that contaminate in certain environments, such as swimming pools.
Photochemical oxidizers
Polluting substances, which are gases formed by nitrogen oxides and fuels that are incompletely burned are known as photochemical oxidizers.
These chemicals have this name (photo, which means light) because they are activated by sunlight. Photochemical oxidants are related to atmospheric pollution and phenomena such as smog (a kind of fog formed by smoke).
See too:
- Oxidation