Redoxions – Reduction and Oxidation Reactions

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Reduction is the loss of oxygen atom from a molecule or the gaining of one or more electrons. A reduction reaction is seen from the point of view of the molecule being reduced, as when one molecule gets reduced another gets oxidised. The full reaction is known as a Redox reaction. This is a good way of remembering it.

This can be remembered with the term OIL RIG when speaking about electrons.

  • Oxidation Is Loss
  • Reduction Is Gain

In the case of Organic Chemistry it is usually the case of the gaining/loss of Oxygen/Hydrogen

In Inorganic Chemistry the term refers to the change in oxidation state of the metal center.

Oxidation is a process where a substance
  • Loses one or more electrons
  • Gains an oxygen atom or Electronegative atoms
  • Loses a hydrogen atom or Electropositive atoms
  • Gains an increase in its oxidation number
Reduction is the opposite!