Rawhiya

Oxidation and reduction are opposite processes that always happen together, so they are called redox reactions. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, while reduction is the gain of electrons. A simple way to remember this is OIL RIG — Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain. In a redox reaction, the substance that loses electrons is oxidized, and the substance that gains electrons is reduced. For example, when zinc reacts with copper ions, zinc loses electrons and becomes Zn²⁺, while Cu²⁺ gains those electrons and becomes copper. The substance that causes another substance to be oxidized is called the reducing agent, while the substance that causes another substance to be reduced is called the oxidizing agent. Oxidation can also be described as gaining oxygen or losing hydrogen, while reduction can mean losing oxygen or gaining hydrogen. Redox reactions are important in rusting, burning, batteries, respiration, photosynthesis, metal extraction, and many chemical reactions. In every redox reaction, electrons are transferred from one substance to another, making oxidation and reduction two connected parts of the same process.