Explaint the concept of oxidation and reduction

 

Oxidation and Reduction:

• Oxidation is a process where a substance loses electrons, while reduction is a process where a substance gains electrons.
• Together, oxidation and reduction are called redox reactions.
• Oxidation and reduction always occur together because when one substance loses electrons, another substance must gain those electrons.
• In redox reactions, the substance that loses electrons is called the reducing agent, while the substance that gains electrons is called the oxidizing agent.
• An oxidizing agent causes oxidation, while a reducing agent causes reduction.
• The oxidation state of an atom in a molecule or ion describes how many electrons that atom has gained or lost compared to its neutral state.
• In a redox reaction, the total number of electrons lost by the reducing agent must equal the total number of electrons gained by the oxidizing agent.
• In many cases, redox reactions involve the transfer of hydrogen ions (H+) along with electrons.
• Redox reactions are important in many biological processes, including respiration and photosynthesis.
• Corrosion is an example of a redox reaction where metal is oxidized by oxygen in the air, forming metal oxides.