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Redox (/ ˈ r ɛ d ɒ k s / RED-oks, / ˈ r iː d ɒ k s / REE-doks, reduction–oxidation [2] or oxidation–reduction [3]: 150 ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the oxidation states of the reactants change. [4] Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a ...
Oxidation numbers are fundamental to the chemical nomenclature of ionic compounds. For example, Cu compounds with Cu oxidation state +2 are called cupric and those with state +1 are cuprous. [4]: 172 The oxidation numbers of elements allow predictions of chemical formula and reactions, especially oxidation-reduction reactions. The oxidation ...
Oxidation and reduction describe the change of oxidation state that takes place in the atoms, ions or molecules involved in an electrochemical reaction. Formally, oxidation state is the hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all bonds to atoms of different elements were 100% ionic. An atom or ion that gives up an electron to another ...
The oxygen reduction reaction is an essential reaction for aerobic organisms. Such organisms are powered by the heat of combustion of fuel (food) by O 2.Rather than combustion, organisms rely on elaborate sequences of electron-transfer reactions, often coupled to proton transfer.
Oxidation is better defined as an increase in oxidation state of atoms and reduction as a decrease in oxidation state. In practice, the transfer of electrons will always change the oxidation state, but there are many reactions that are classed as "redox" even though no electron transfer occurs (such as those involving covalent bonds). [28] [29]
At the positively charged anode, an oxidation reaction occurs, generating oxygen gas and giving electrons to the anode to complete the circuit. The two half-reactions, reduction and oxidation, are coupled to form a balanced system. In order to balance each half-reaction, the water needs to be acidic or basic.
An agent's oxidation state describes its degree of loss of electrons, where the higher the oxidation state then the fewer electrons it has. So initially, prior to the reaction, a reducing agent is typically in one of its lower possible oxidation states; its oxidation state increases during the reaction while that of the oxidizer decreases.
Reduction of metal oxide to the metal is practiced on a large scale in the production of some metals. Many metal oxides convert to metals simply by heating, (see Thermal decomposition). For example, silver oxide decomposes at 200 °C: [10] +