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Oxidation = electron loss or oxidation-state increase; reduction = electron gain or oxidation-state decrease.
Oxidation and reduction (redox) are chemical processes in which oxidation states change. Oxidation is defined as the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state. In a redox reaction, oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously because electrons lost by one species are gained by another. The species that causes oxidation is the oxidant (oxidizing agent/electron acceptor), and it is reduced in the reaction. Conversely, the species that causes reduction is the reductant (reducing agent/electron donor), and it is oxidized in the reaction. These roles can be confusing because the “oxidized” or “reduced” wording describes what happens to the species, not the name of the agent; mnemonics like OIL RIG (oxidation is loss of electrons; reduction is gain of electrons) help distinguish the definitions.
Oxidation = electron loss or oxidation-state increase; reduction = electron gain or oxidation-state decrease.
Oxidation and reduction always occur together in a single redox reaction.
Oxidants accept electrons (and are reduced); reductants donate electrons (and are oxidized).
A redox pair/couple links a reducing species with its corresponding oxidized form (e.g., Fe2+/Fe3+).
The loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state of a chemical species.
The gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state of a chemical species.
A substance that causes another species to lose electrons; the oxidant itself is reduced.
A substance that causes another species to gain electrons; the reductant itself is oxidized.
A related set of species consisting of a reducing form and its corresponding oxidizing form (e.g., Fe2+/Fe3+).
Either the oxidation or the reduction process considered alone, with the understanding that the other half-reaction must occur to complete the overall reaction.
A term proposed to describe reduction when electron transfer occurs at electrodes.
A term proposed to describe oxidation when electron transfer occurs at electrodes.
“Can you explain what "Oxidation = electron loss or oxidation-state increase; reduction = electron gain or oxidation-state decrease." means in simple terms?”