1. Chapter 19.3

2. 1. Relate chemical activity to oxidizing and reducing
strength.
2. Explain the concept of disproportionation.

3. • A reducing agent is a substance that has the
potential to cause another substance to be reduced.
• An oxidizing agent is a substance that has the
potential to cause another substance to be oxidized.

4. Iron -
oxidized
Copper -
reduced
Iron – reducing
agent
Copper –
oxidizing agent

6. • Different substances can be compared and rated by
their relative potential as reducing and oxidizing
agents.
• The negative ion of a strong oxidizing agent is a weak
reducing agent.
• The positive ion of a strong reducing agent is a weak
oxidizing agent.

8. • A process in which a substance acts as both an
oxidizing agent and a reducing agent is called
disproportionation.
• A substance that undergoes disproportionation is
both self-oxidizing and self-reducing.
 example: Hydrogen peroxide is both oxidized and
reduced
-1 -1 0
2 2 2 22H O 2H O O 