Oxidation is a chemical process in which an atom, ion, or molecule loses electrons or its oxidation number increases.
Key Points:
- Earlier, oxidation was defined as adding oxygen or removing hydrogen from a substance.
- In modern terms, it means loss of electrons.
- Oxidation always happens together with reduction (in a redox reaction).
Examples in simple words:
- When iron reacts with oxygen to form rust, iron atoms are oxidized because they lose electrons.
- In burning of fuels, carbon is oxidized as it combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
- In respiration, glucose is oxidized to release energy.
Simple definition:
Oxidation is when a substance loses electrons or gains oxygen, making its oxidation number go up.