Oxidation and Reduction

This article will highlight the concept of Oxidation and Reduction along with their differences.

What is Oxidation?

Oxidation is the loss of electrons. In chemistry, an oxidation state is the number of electrons an atom or a compound has. A transition metal has more unpaired electrons than elements non-metals. Oxidation is a transition process that involves gaining and losing electron pairs to yield an ionic compound and a neutral compound and releasing energy in the form of heat. In general, reduction occurs when electrons are taken away from one substance while oxidation occurs when they are added to another substance.

What is Reduction?

Reduction is the gain of electrons. In chemistry, an oxidation state is the number of electrons an atom or a compound has. A transition metal has more unpaired electrons than elements non-metal. Reduction is a transition process that involves gaining and losing electron pairs to yield an ionic compound, a neutral compound and releasing energy in the form of heat.

Concept of Oxidation and Reduction

When does Oxidation Occurs?

Oxidation occurs when an atom or compound loses one or more electrons while reduction occurs when an atom or compound gains one or more electrons. The opposite biological processes of oxidation and reduction are called respiration (in which organisms gain electrons) and photosynthesis (in which organisms lose electrons). The oxidation number of an element or compound is the charge that an element or compound has. Elements have a fixed oxidation number. Compounds have different oxidation numbers depending on their charge.

When does Reduction Occurs?

Reduction occurs when an atom or compound gains one or more electrons while oxidation occurs when an atom or compound loses one or more electrons. The opposite biological processes of respiration (in which organisms gain electrons) and photosynthesis (in which organisms lose electrons). The reduction number of an atom/compound is the charge that it loses in undergoing this reaction. Elements in their neutral form always have one electron, so they always have the same reduction number and cannot be reduced any further by any chemical reaction.

Difference between Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation and Reduction are reactions in chemistry

Oxidation is when an atom or compound loses one or more electrons while reduction occurs when an atom or compound gains one or more electrons

The oxidation number of an element or compound is the charge that an element or compound has. Elements have a fixed oxidation number. Compounds have different oxidation numbers depending on their charge

Elements in their neutral form always have one electron, so they always have the same reduction number and cannot be reduced any further by any chemical reaction

The opposite biological processes of oxidation and reduction are called respiration (in which organisms gain electrons) and photosynthesis (in which organisms lose electrons)

The opposite biological processes of respiration (in which organisms gain electrons) and photosynthesis (in which organisms lose electrons)

All elements in a compound can be oxidized or reduced but some elements have stable or preferred oxidation states. These elements do not undergo oxidation as easily as others would

Some elements in a compound have a greater tendency to lose electrons. These elements have lower reduction potentials than the others

When the reduction potential of one element is less than the oxidation potential of another element, the reaction will tend to happen spontaneously in one direction. The reaction goes from left to right and is said to be spontaneous

Conclusion

Oxidation and reduction are closely related to one another. It is essentially a chemical reaction in which compounds gain or lose electrons in order to achieve electrical neutrality. The term “oxidation” applies to both the increase in oxidation state of an atom and the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom or ion. In such reactions, the total number of electrons are always conserved. When a nonmetal gains an electron, it gains a negative charge. A metal loses electrons and thus becomes more positive.