OXIDIZING AGENT (noun)

 

A substance that takes electrons from another substance that is being oxidized (and therefore itself is reduced) in a redox reaction.

Example: Cu⁰ + Zn²⁺ Cu²⁺ + Zn⁰; here Zn²⁺ is the oxidizing agent that becomes reduced to Zn⁰ as it causes Cu⁰ to become oxidized to Cu²⁺.