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Both oxidation and reduction are mainly based on two elements – “Oxygen” and “Hydrogen”.
Now let us see what is meant by Oxidation and what is meant by reduction.
Oxidation:
In a traditional way, we can say that oxidation is the method of combining Oxygen or any other electronegative element. Or it can also be defined as the removing hydrogen or any other electropositive element,
In a modern way, Oxidation is the process of atoms or ions losing one or more electrons.
Reduction is vice versa of oxidation.
Reduction:
In a traditional way we can say that reduction is the method of combining hydrogen or any other electropositive element. Or it can also be defined as removing oxygen or any other electronegative element,
In a modern way, Reduction is the process of atoms or ions gaining one or more electrons.
Most of us in general say as “Oxidation means losing of electrons and reduction means gaining of electrons”.
To memorise this, we see this in terms of simple manners as OIL and RIG.
OIL means Oxidation is loss.
RIG means Reduction is gain
Difference between oxidation and reduction
What is meant by oxidising agents?
The oxidation is the process of gaining electrons and hence will be reduced in a chemical reaction. The oxidising agent is otherwise called an oxidant or an electron acceptor.
Electron acceptor means it accepts the electrons.
Since the gaining of electrons is done here, the Oxidation number will be higher.
In other words, an oxidising agent can be called a substance that will be used in a chemical reaction in gaining more than one electron.
What is meant by reducing agents?
The reduction is the process of losing electrons and hence will be added to a chemical reaction.
The reducing agent is otherwise called a reductant or electron donor.
Electron donor means it donates the electrons.
Since the losing of electrons is done here, the Oxidation number will be lower and the reduction number will be higher.
Examples of reducing agents are earth metals, formic acid, sulfite compounds etc.
In other words, a Reducing agent can be called a substance that will be used in a chemical reaction in loss of more than one electron.
Also, the chemical substance that transfers electron positive atoms is called reducing agents.
Applications of oxidising and reducing agents
Both oxidising and reducing agents are used in redox reactions.
During the oxidation process, reducing agents will be oxidised.
During the reduction process, the oxidising agent will be reduced.
Both oxidising and reducing agents are used in industries.
They are used to purify water, bleach clothes or fabric and also for batteries to store energy.
Both oxidising and reducing agents are used in a biological way also
Examples of oxidation
The best example of the oxidation process will be Rusting: When iron is combined or reacted with water and oxygen, it forms hydrated iron oxide and so it is called rusting.
The chemical reaction of rusting is :
2 Fe + O2 → Fe2O3
Here the iron metal is combined or oxidised with oxygen to form an iron oxide which is also called rust.
All the electrochemical reactions are also the best examples of oxidation reactions
When the copper wire is kept or combined with silver ion solution, the copper wire will get oxidised.
All metals when combined with oxygen will be for metal oxides. Magnesium when combined with oxygen gives magnesium oxide.
2 Mg (s) + O2 (g) → 2 MgO (s)
Examples of reduction:
Rusting of iron can also be taken as an example of reduction because during the rusting process.
The chemical reaction between copper and magnesium will also be taken as an example.
Cu2+ + Mg → Cu + Mg2+
Conclusion:
Both the combination of oxidation and reduction reactions are called redox reactions. In a modern way, the oxidation process means losing electrons from an atom. In the traditional way, Oxidation means the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen. In the modern way, the reduction process means gaining electrons from an atom. In the traditional way, Reduction means the addition of hydrogen or removal of hydrogen. The substance that helps in gaining electrons is used in the oxidation process called an oxidising agent and the substance that is used in losing electrons is used in the reduction process which is called a reducing agent. Rusting of iron can be taken as an example of both oxidation and reduction reactions.
