reduktanter

Reducaktanter, known in English as reducing agents or reductants, are substances that donate electrons to another species in a redox reaction and are themselves oxidized in the process. By supplying electrons, they enable the reduction of oxidized compounds while undergoing oxidation.

In a redox process, the reductant is the species that reduces others and is thus the counterpart to the oxidizing agent, which accepts electrons. The relative strength of reductants is commonly discussed in terms of standard redox potentials; species with more negative reduction potentials tend to be stronger reductants because they are more readily oxidized.

Common examples include hydrogen gas (H2), carbon monoxide, metal hydrides such as sodium borohydride (NaBH4) and lithium aluminum hydride (LiAlH4), and organic or inorganic substances like zinc, iron, hydrazine (N2H4), and sulfite (SO3^2−) under appropriate conditions. Reductants are chosen based on reaction requirements, including selectivity, solubility, and compatibility with other functional groups.

Applications span chemistry, industry, and environmental science. In organic synthesis, reductants convert carbonyl groups to alcohols (NaBH4 for mild reductions; LiAlH4 for stronger reductions). Hydrogen gas enables catalytic hydrogenation. In metallurgy, carbon monoxide and other reductants are used to extract metals from ores. In environmental contexts, reductants participate in remediation and water treatment by reducing contaminants.

Terminology varies by language; reduktanter is commonly used in Scandinavian languages to denote reducing agents, while English literature typically uses reducing agent or reductant.