Question

(a) Oxygen was formed at the anode and copper was formed at the cathode.

(i) The ionic half-equation for the formation of oxygen is shown.

4OH- = O2 + 2H2O + 4e-

Explain why this reaction is oxidation.

Answer 1

Oxydation is a loss of electrons.

In this reaction oxygen loses 4 electrons (4O^2- reuslts into O₂). That is why, this is an oxidation reaction.