What do we mean by Reducing nature and oxidising nature? Please explain with help of examples and in detail too. Thank you.

Oxidation : It is the process of losing electrons .
Reduction : It is the process of gaining electrons.

The oxidising agent are those which have the ability to oxidise other and itself get reduced whereas  reducing agents are those which have the ability to reduce other and itself get oxidise.

Meaning of oxidation and reduction-
1. Oxidation mean addition of  oxygen and reduction means removal of Oxygen.
2. Oxidation mean removal of Hydrogen and reduction means addition of Hydrogen.  

Example-
Nitric acid acts as an oxidising agent because it losses oxygen atom and allow the addition of oxygen to other element.

Example-
2C + 4HNO3  →  2CO2 + 4NO2 + 2H2

Similarly ,  Reducing agent means tendency to get oxidised itself and ability to make other reduce i.e the species which tends to loss electron are called as reducing agent.

Example-
Hydrochloric acid (HCl) and Sulphuric acid(H2SO4) behave as reducing agents because HCl and H2SO4 tends to oxidise themselves by loosing hydrogen.

Also, Reducing agent tends to show loss of electron whereas oxidising agent tends to show gain of electron.

Example-
Cu + 2AgNO3 ↔ Cu(NO3)2 + 2Ag

Cu  loss electron to AgNO3 and act as Reducing agent whereas AgNO3  gain electron and act as oxidising agent.   

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