Answer to Question #133210 in General Chemistry for Kabibe Alexander

Question

What is meant by the term oxidation and reduction? Why are they used together?

Answer 1

Oxidation is the loss of electrons during a reaction by a molecule, atom or ion. Oxidation occurs when the oxidation state of a molecule, atom or ion is increased. The opposite process is called reduction, which occurs when there is a gain of electrons or the oxidation state of an atom, molecule, or ion decreases.

Because any loss of electrons by one substance must be accompanied by a gain in electrons by something else, oxidation and reduction always occur together