Editing Redox (section)

===Oxidants===
{{Main|Oxidizing agent}}

Oxidation originally implied a reaction with oxygen to form an oxide. Later, the term was expanded to encompass [[Chemical substance|substance]]s that accomplished chemical reactions similar to those of oxygen. Ultimately, the meaning was generalized to include all processes involving the loss of electrons or the increase in the oxidation state of a chemical species.<ref name="Petrucci2017">{{cite book |last1=Petrucci |first1=Ralph H. |last2=Harwood |first2=William S. |last3=Herring |first3=F. Geoffrey|title=General Chemistry: Principles and Modern applications |date=2017 |location=Toronto |isbn=978-0-13-293128-1 |edition=11th |publisher=Pearson }}</ref>{{rp|A49}} Substances that have the ability to oxidize other substances (cause them to lose electrons) are said to be oxidative or oxidizing, and are known as [[oxidizing agent]]s, oxidants, or oxidizers. The oxidant removes electrons from another substance, and is thus itself reduced.<ref name="Petrucci2017" />{{rp|A50}} Because it "accepts" electrons, the oxidizing agent is also called an [[electron acceptor]]. Oxidants are usually chemical substances with elements in high oxidation states<ref name="Petrucci2002" />{{rp|159}} (e.g., {{chem|link=dinitrogen tetroxide|N|2|O|4}}, {{chem|link=permanganate|MnO|4|-}}, {{chem|link=chromium trioxide|CrO|3}}, {{chem|link=dichromate|Cr|2|O|7|2-}}, {{chem|link=Osmium(VIII) oxide|OsO|4}}), or else highly [[electronegativity|electronegative]] elements (e.g. [[Oxygen|O<sub>2</sub>]], [[Fluorine|F<sub>2</sub>]], [[Chlorine|Cl<sub>2</sub>]], [[Bromine|Br<sub>2</sub>]], [[Iodine|I<sub>2</sub>]]) that can gain extra electrons by oxidizing another substance.<ref name="Petrucci2002" />{{rp|909}}

Oxidizers are oxidants, but the term is mainly reserved for sources of oxygen, particularly in the context of explosions. [[Nitric acid]] is a strong oxidizer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Nitric Acid Fact Sheet |url=https://essr.umd.edu/sites/default/files/2021-10/NitricAcidFactSheet.pdf |website=Department of Environmental Safety, Sustainability & Risk |publisher=University of Maryland |access-date=12 February 2024}}</ref>

<div>[[File:GHS-pictogram-rondflam.svg|thumb|upright|The [[Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labeling of Chemicals|international]] [[GHS hazard pictograms|pictogram]] for oxidizing chemicals]]</div>