Ask A Scientist© Chemistry Archive

name        Katherine
status      student
age         15

Question -  You have said that you use THIOSULPHATE as a reducing agent.
What does a reducing agent do? And what are the properties of it?
Basically im asking for as much information as possible about the chemical.
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A reducing agent is a substance that's works together with an oxidizing
agent. The type of reaction is an oxidation reduction reaction. "Redox"
reactions are reactions that involve the transfer of electrons from some
substance to another. One substance provides electrons for the other, so
anmoxidation (loss of electrons) cannot occur without a reduction (gain of
electrons). Thiosulfate is an ion that has to be bonded to something else.
Probably the most common thiosulfate is sodium thiosulfate, also known to
photographers as "hypo." All the details of sodium thiosulfate can be found
in a book called the "Merck Index" which should be in the reference section
of any good library.

Hope this helps with your question.

Bob Blaus
York High School
Elmhurst, Illinois
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