Insimbi engagqwali inamandla okumelana ne-oxidation yasemkhathini, okungukuthi, ukugqwala, futhi inamandla okumelana nokugqwala endaweni equkethe i-asidi, i-alkali, nosawoti, okungukuthi, ukumelana nokugqwala. Kodwa-ke, inani lokumelana nokugqwala liyahlukahluka ngokwakhiwa kwamakhemikhali ensimbi ngokwayo, isimo somunye nomunye, izimo zokusetshenziswa, kanye nohlobo lwendawo yemvelo.