Oxidation and Reduction

We all know that matter is anything that exists. Matter can neither be created nor destroyed and only be transformed from one form to another. So, all the matter we see results from a chemical reaction between the simple elements found in nature. Many chemical reactions take place in our bodies daily. Many chemical reactionary chemical reactions, endothermic reactions, etc. The redox reaction is one such type of reaction. Let us look at what is a redox reaction and the oxidation potential of elements. The article provides all the essential information to understand the major difference.

What is the Redox Reaction?

To understand what a redox reaction is, let us first understand what a chemical reaction is. 

A chemical reaction occurs when one type of element reacts with another type. The chemical reaction can also take place between similar elements. 

The elements that are found in nature are not stable. They need to have 8 electrons in their valence shell to gain stability. So, elements combine to gain stability. They either donate their excess electrons and become stable or accept electrons from other elements to become stable.

Hence, most elements are not found in pure form in nature. They are always found in combination with other elements. This exchange of electrons is what is a redox reaction.

In the redox reaction, the oxidation and the reduction reactions occur simultaneously. 

This is what is a redox reaction. The exchange of electrons happens between two elements of the same type or different types. So let us take a look at what is an Oxidation reaction and what is a reduction reaction.

Oxidation Reaction

The Oxidation reaction is one in which the Oxidation state of an element changes.

When an element has a smaller number of electrons in its valence shell, it’s easier for that element to donate electrons to get stability. So, they donate the electrons in a chemical reaction to other elements. Thus, they undergo Oxidation. The process of losing electrons is called Oxidation.

The elements that undergo oxidation help the other elements in the chemical reaction to get reduced by donating their electrons. Hence, they are called reducing agents. The less electronegative elements undergo oxidation in a chemical reaction and become reducing agents.

 The reduction or oxidation potential of these reducing agents has a negative value. The more negative the value, the higher the power of those elements as reducing agents.

Reduction Reaction

The reduction reaction is exactly the opposite of the oxidation reaction. However, the oxidation state of the element that undergoes reduction changes. Electrons of some atoms have a large number of electrons in the valence shell. So, it’s easier for them to receive electrons to gain stability. 

So, the elements that receive electrons from other elements undergo a reduction in a chemical process. The elements with higher electronegativity tend to undergo reduction quickly. Since they help the other element in a chemical reaction to get oxidised, they are called oxidising agents.

Their reduction or oxidation potential is positive. You can determine that with the help of the reduction potential table.

Oxidation and Reduction: Differences

Even though the Oxidation reaction and reduction reaction takes place simultaneously and is termed a redox reaction, they are different from each other in the following ways.

1. In simple terms, oxidation means gaining oxygen. Reduction means losing oxygen.
2. The oxidation number of an element increases when it undergoes oxidation. The oxidation number of an element decreases when it undergoes reduction.
3. Oxidation reaction involves the loss of electrons by the element which undergoes oxidation. A reduction reaction involves the gain of electrons by the element which undergoes reduction.
4. The element which undergoes oxidation is termed the reducing agent. The element which undergoes reduction is termed the reducing agent.
5. Less electronegative elements tend to undergo the oxidation reaction. More electronegative elements tend to undergo the reduction reaction.
6. The reduction or oxidation potential of the elements which undergo oxidation is generally negative. The reduction or oxidation potential of the elements which undergo reduction is generally positive.  
7. The elements that undergo oxidation are generally at the top of the reduction potential table. The elements which undergo a reduction are generally at the bottom of the reduction potential table.

Such are the points of difference between the oxidation and reduction reactions.

Conclusion

The chemical reactions are necessary to form complex matter as matter can neither be created nor destroyed. It can only be transformed from one form to another. Chemical reactions are of many types, one of which is the redox reaction. In a redox reaction, oxidation and reduction take place simultaneously. This is what is a redox reaction. The reduction reaction involves Geneva electrons, while the Oxidation reaction involves losing electrons. In the reduction reaction, the oxidation number of elements reduces, and in the Oxidation reaction, the number of elements increases.