What is oxidation?

What is oxidation?

• A. Gain of electrons
• B. Sharing of electrons
• C. Creation of ions
• D. Loss of electrons

Answer: (D)

Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a molecule or atom, which raises its oxidation state. In redox reactions, one species loses electrons (is oxidized) while another gains those electrons (is reduced). A handy rule is that oxidation tracks electron loss, while reduction tracks electron gain. For example, an iron ion that goes from Fe2+ to Fe3+ has lost an electron and is oxidized. In metabolic contexts, a donor that releases electrons to the electron transport chain is oxidized, with its partner being reduced. Gaining electrons is the opposite process (reduction), sharing electrons describes covalent bonding without a net transfer, and simply creating ions isn’t the same as oxidation, since oxidation specifically refers to electron loss. Therefore, loss of electrons best describes oxidation.

Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a molecule or atom, which raises its oxidation state. In redox reactions, one species loses electrons (is oxidized) while another gains those electrons (is reduced). A handy rule is that oxidation tracks electron loss, while reduction tracks electron gain. For example, an iron ion that goes from Fe2+ to Fe3+ has lost an electron and is oxidized. In metabolic contexts, a donor that releases electrons to the electron transport chain is oxidized, with its partner being reduced. Gaining electrons is the opposite process (reduction), sharing electrons describes covalent bonding without a net transfer, and simply creating ions isn’t the same as oxidation, since oxidation specifically refers to electron loss. Therefore, loss of electrons best describes oxidation.