Definition
A reducing agent is a compound that facilitates the reduction of an oxidized compound by a coupled electron transport in an oxidation-reduction process, known as a redox reaction. The reducing agent loses the electron which is transferred to the oxidized compound. Redox reactions are fundamental in biological systems and are involved in all metabolic processes, especially in energy conservation reactions.
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Gomez, F. (2015). Reducing Agent. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1357
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-44185-5_1357
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Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg
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