Materials in this group do not burn in themselves, but enhance the combustion of other substances.

Inorganic oxidizing agents can react with reducing agents to generate heat and products that may be gaseous (causing pressurization of closed containers). The products may themselves be capable of further reactions (such as combustion in the air). The chemical reduction of materials in this group can be rapid or even explosive, but often requires initiation (heat, spark, catalyst, addition of a solvent). Explosive mixtures of inorganic oxidizing agents with reducing agents often persist unchanged for long periods if initiation is prevented. Such systems are typically mixtures of solids, but may involve any combination of physical states. Some inorganic oxidizing agents are salts of metals that are soluble in water; dissolution dilutes but does not nullify the oxidizing power of such materials. Organic compounds in general have some reducing power and can in principle react with compounds in this class. Actual reactivity varies greatly with the identity of the organic compound. Inorganic oxidizing agents can react violently with active metals, cyanides, esters, and thiocyanates. Explosives often consist of an inorganic oxidizing agent mixed in intimate contact with a reducing agent. Gunpowder is such a mixture. Other examples are a mixture of sugar (an organic compound) plus sodium chlorate and magnesium (an inorganic reducing agent) plus barium peroxide. Compounds that inherently contain a group that is a reducing agent and an oxidizing agent are classed in both the Inorganic Oxidizing Agents group and in the Inorganic Reducing Agents group; for example, ammonium nitrate. The strongly oxidizing elements oxygen and fluorine are classified here. Inorganic oxidizing agents that are also acids (such as nitric and perchloric acids) are not included in this group. They are classed in the Acids, Inorganic Oxidizing group.

Most are toxic by ingestion; degree varies widely.

Inorganic oxidizing agents include nitrates, nitrites, permanganates chromates, bromates, iodates, chlorates, perchlorates, chlorites, hypochlorites, inorganic peroxides, and certain oxides. Although, in principle, inorganic sulfates are oxidizing agents, they are not included in this group because the reactions tend to be slow. The most dangerous oxidizing agents are the chlorites, chlorates, and perchlorates, in that order. Acidic media favor reactions in which these substances act as oxidizing agents.

Ammonium dichromate, ammonium nitrate, ammonium perchlorate, ammonium permanganate, barium bromate, barium chlorate, barium peroxide, cadmium chlorate, calcium chlorate, calcium chromate, calcium perchlorate, chromium nitrate, cobalt nitrate.