Oxidizers

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A substance that supports combustion by providing oxygen, enhancing burning in reactions
2. Chemicals that facilitate oxidation, often used in rocket fuels or explosives
3. Materials that accelerate the process of oxidation, commonly found in various industrial applications

Etymology: Oxidizers are named for a word that was itself built from Greek. "Oxygen" was coined in French as "oxygène" by Antoine Lavoisier, the chemist, from Greek "oxys" (sharp, acid) and "genos" (producing), because he believed oxygen was the essential element in forming acids. That belief turned out to be wrong, but the name stuck, and "oxide" followed as a compound describing substances containing oxygen. The modern word is simpler. English "oxidize" comes from "oxide" with the suffix "-ize," which turns a noun into a verb meaning to combine with oxygen or undergo such a combination. "Oxidizer" then adds the agent suffix "-er" to that verb, naming whatever causes the process. So the term is a chain of three layers: a Greek root for sharpness, a French chemical coinage, and an English verb-forming suffix.

Synonyms: oxidants