What is a Reduction Reaction. Give an Example

What is a reduction reaction? Give an example

The fascinating examples or results of almost all changes we observe in day to day life and in most of the items we use are primarily due to interaction between chemical molecules. Although there are various types in which the chemical reactions can be classified but the article shall primarily focus on briefly explaining what is a reduction reaction with an example of a reduction reaction mechanism.

Reduction based chemical reactions are those reactions in which the reactant or the reacting atom or molecule attains the chance of addition of one or greater than one electron during the mechanism. Oxidation reactions on the other can be simply described as the reacting atom’s outcome of having decreased number of electrons during the chemical mechanism. 

• The reduction reaction in chemistry is also briefly associated with the aspect of Oxidation Number. 

• While the reduction reaction mechanism goes on the accumulation of electrons by the reacting element produces a result that increases the negative charge present on the atom.

• The aspect of negative charge accumulation can also be understood through the fundamental concept of electrons being negatively charged particles and the increase in electron gain in turn elevates the electron number in the atom.

• Thus the oxidation number is the factor that represents the accumulation or loss of electrons and also decreases in cases of reduction reactions.

Example:

• Zn(s) + 2H⁺(aq) →Zn²⁺ (aq) + H₂ (g)

The above-mentioned reaction example shows that H⁺ ionic types initially in the reactant stage have an oxidation number of +1 but soon in the product phase they turn to H₂ which shows that the oxidation factor of +1 has gained an electron and thus reduced to form an oxidation number of zero.