[dkssudgktpdy]

Are OsO4 and KMnO4 oxidizing reagents or reducing reagents?

I'm thinking they are reducing reagents as they help oxidizing molecules. please confirm this.

[Honclbrif]

Like acid and base, oxidizing and reducing are entirely relative terms. What are we comparing OsO₄ and KMnO₄ to?

[fledarmus]

What are the oxidation states of the atoms in OsO₄ and KMnO₄? What are the possible oxidation states for those atoms? What would it take for one of those atoms to change from its current oxidation state to some other possible oxidation state? How easy is it for that reaction to happen?

[dkssudgktpdy]

so they're oxidizing reagents. ?

[fledarmus]

so they're oxidizing reagents. ?

LOL - are you guessing? I'd like to see your reasoning before confirming or denying 

[dkssudgktpdy]

In my note, they were involved in a process of oxidation. Thus, they must help oxidizing other molecules which means they are oxidizing reagents. Correcto? o no

[fledarmus]

From Wikipedia:

Potassium permanganate is an inorganic chemical compound with the formula KMnO4. It is a salt consisting of K+ and MnO4− ions. Formerly known as permanganate of potash or Condy's crystals, it is a strong oxidizing agent.

In organic synthesis OsO4 is widely used to oxidise alkenes to the vicinal diols

[dkssudgktpdy]

thanks for both threads.
For the other one I will probably just ask my prof or else.