What does oxidiser mean?
An oxidiser is a substance that causes another material to undergo oxidation, a chemical process in which the other material loses electrons. In accepting those electrons, the oxidiser is itself reduced, so oxidation always involves a transfer of electrons rather than the simple addition of oxygen. Oxidising agents may be gases, liquids, or solids, and their strength and reactivity vary considerably according to their chemical structure. Familiar examples include hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid, and certain metal oxides. The word is especially important in industrial chemistry, environmental science, metallurgy, and biological chemistry, where understanding oxidation helps explain corrosion, combustion, disinfection, and cellular metabolism. Although its name reflects its historical association with oxygen, an oxidiser need not contain oxygen: some of the strongest oxidising agents are compounds of chlorine, chromium, or other elements. In British usage, the word is spelled oxidiser; the US form is oxidizer.
nounA substance that causes another substance to undergo oxidation. In the process, the oxidiser accepts electrons and is itself reduced.
- A substance that oxidizes another by accepting electrons and undergoing reduction.
"The powerful oxidiser reacts rapidly with the metal surface."
"Hydrogen peroxide is commonly used as an oxidiser in industrial reactions."
"The chemist added the oxidiser to the solution and observed a vigorous reaction."
The plural is used when referring to different oxidising substances collectively or individually.
"Several strong oxidisers must be stored separately from combustible materials."
Not every oxidiser contains oxygen: some simply steal electrons from what they attack.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oxidiser come from?
Oxidiser is formed from the British spelling of oxidise with the suffix -er, denoting an agent that performs the action. The larger word family developed through French and Latin forms connected with oxys, a Greek word meaning 'sharp' or 'sour', which was also the source of the element name oxygen. Oxidise and oxidation later became the conventional names for reactions involving electron loss and the corresponding increase in oxidation state.
Related word forms
How oxidiser is actually used
The term is primarily used in chemistry and technical writing. In British English, it is normally spelled with s, while US English generally uses the spelling with z.
Easily confused with oxidiser
Oxidiser and oxidizer refer to the same substance, but oxidiser is the standard British spelling and oxidizer is the standard US spelling.
An oxidiser is a substance that causes oxidation, whereas oxidation is the chemical process itself.