Oxidation involves which change in electrons?

Oxidation involves which change in electrons?

• A. Gains electrons
• B. Loses electrons
• C. Loses neutrons
• D. Changes oxidation state by gaining protons

Answer: (B)

Oxidation is the loss of electrons in a chemical reaction, which increases the oxidation state of the element. Since electrons carry negative charge, removing them makes the atom more positively charged. This is why oxidation is paired with reduction, where a species gains electrons. For example, in cellular respiration, NADH is oxidized to NAD+ by donating electrons, while oxygen is reduced by gaining those electrons. The other ideas don’t fit: gaining electrons is reduction, not oxidation; losing neutrons or changing protons would alter the nucleus and the element itself, not the typical electron transfer that defines oxidation.

Oxidation is the loss of electrons in a chemical reaction, which increases the oxidation state of the element. Since electrons carry negative charge, removing them makes the atom more positively charged. This is why oxidation is paired with reduction, where a species gains electrons. For example, in cellular respiration, NADH is oxidized to NAD+ by donating electrons, while oxygen is reduced by gaining those electrons. The other ideas don’t fit: gaining electrons is reduction, not oxidation; losing neutrons or changing protons would alter the nucleus and the element itself, not the typical electron transfer that defines oxidation.