oxidize

In by Jackie Dunn

The process of something combining with or being exposed to oxygen in the air; rust

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary
oxidize (verb)
transitive verb
1.
to combine with oxygen
2.
to dehydrogenate especially by the action of oxygen
3.
intransitive verb
to change (a compound) by increasing the proportion of the electronegative part or change (an element or ion) from a lower to a higher positive valence remove one or more electrons from (an atom, ion, or molecule) to become - oxidized
oxidize (Wikipedia)
For other uses, see Redox (disambiguation).
The two parts of a redox reaction
Rusting of metal, a slow oxidation reaction
A bonfire; combustion is a fast oxidation reaction
Sodium and fluorine bonding ionically to form sodium fluoride. Sodium loses its outer electron to give it a stable electron configuration, and this electron enters the fluorine atom exothermically. The oppositely charged ions are then attracted to each other. The sodium is oxidized, and the fluorine is reduced.
Demonstration of the reaction between a strong oxidising and a reducing agent. When few drops of glycerol (reducing agent) are added to powdered potassium permanganate (strong oxidising agent), a vigorous reaction accompanied by self-ignition starts.

Redox (short for reduction–oxidation reaction) (pronunciation: /ˈrɛdɒks/ redoks or /ˈriːdɒks/ reedoks) is a chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of atoms are changed. Any such reaction involves both a reduction process and a complementary oxidation process, two key concepts involved with electron transfer processes. Redox reactions include all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed; in general, redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons between chemical species. The chemical species from which the electron is stripped is said to have been oxidized, while the chemical species to which the electron is added is said to have been reduced. It can be explained in simple terms:

  • Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion.
  • Reduction is the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state by a molecule, atom, or ion.

As an example, during the combustion of wood, oxygen from the air is reduced, gaining electrons from carbon which is oxidized. Although oxidation reactions are commonly associated with the formation of oxides from oxygen molecules, oxygen is not necessarily included in such reactions, as other chemical species can serve the same function.

The reaction can occur relatively slowly, as with the formation of rust, or more quickly, in the case of fire. There are simple redox processes, such as the oxidation of carbon to yield carbon dioxide (CO2) or the reduction of carbon by hydrogen to yield methane (CH4), and more complex processes such as the oxidation of glucose (C6H12O6) in the human body.

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