reducing agent

American  

noun

Chemistry.

1. a substance that causes another substance to undergo reduction and that is oxidized in the process.

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reducing agent British  

noun

1. chem a substance that reduces another substance in a chemical reaction, being itself oxidized in the process Compare oxidizing agent

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Etymology

Origin of reducing agent

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

But the milling did prompt the aluminium to act as a reducing agent, as he expected.

From Scientific American

In these approaches, a ‘sacrificial’ reducing agent reduces the excited catalyst molecule produced in the first step, forming a radical anion that is then excited by another photon.

From Nature

February volumes were boosted by the use of drag reducing agents, it said.

From Reuters

But the STM tip can also act as a powerful oxidizing or reducing agent, depending on the voltage between it and the surface that it scans across.

From Nature

By contrast, Stanley et al. found that reducing agents did not generate cis-WOOH in their system, whereas exposure to hydrogen peroxide did.

From Nature