Question

Reduction is__________
A. Gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen
B. Gain of hydrogen, loss of oxygen
C. Loss of oxygen, loss of hydrogen
D. Gain of oxygen, gain of hydrogen

Answer 1

The reactions of redox can be divided into two different types of processes which is known as oxidation reaction and reduction reaction. When we observe that the substance has undergone the loss of electrons and the oxidation state of it has been increased then it has undergone oxidation. But if the electrons have been increased and the oxidation state has been decreased then it has gone through a reduction process.

Complete step by step answer:
Reduction is known as the process in which the atom or the compound gains the electrons. So when the atom has the tendency to increase the electrons the charge on it gets reduced. So during the process of reduction we see the oxygen get removed, the hydrogen is added, the non metal get removed, the metal is added, the positive valency of the substance decreases, the electrons get increased and the oxidation number decreases.

So, the correct answer is Option B.

Note: The reducing agents which are considered as active metals which are sodium, magnesium, zinc. These substances have small ionisation energies and also have low electronegativities. The hydrides of the metals are also good reducing agents as they contain hydrogen ions. The iron (III) oxide in reaction with the carbon monoxide has the tendency to undergo the process of reduction so the iron is formed and carbon dioxide is formed by oxidation.