Question

What is meant by oxidation?

Answer 1

Oxidation, in very simple terms can be defined as the loss of electrons from an element of a compound. If during a chemical reaction an element loses its electrons to other elements. it is termed as oxygen. By doing so the element develops a positive charge in it.

Complete answer:
We can understand the meaning of oxidation through two concepts.
1. Classical concept.
2. Electronic concept

Meaning of oxidation in terms of Classical concept:
According to the classical concept, oxidation involves any one of the following.
a. Addition of oxygen
Whenever during a reaction is oxygen gets added to a reacting species, then that process is termed as oxidation
For example: $2Mg+{{O}_{2}}\to 2MgO$

b. Addition of electronegative element
We should note that, during a reaction if an electronegative element gets added with a species, it is termed as oxidation.
For example: $Zn +S\to ZnS ;Mg +C{{l}_{2}}\to MgC{{l}_{2}} \\\$
c. Removal of hydrogen
If hydrogen gets removed from a species, during the course of a chemical reaction then that process is also termed as oxygen.
For example: $2{{H}_{2}}S+{{O}_{2}}\to 2S+2{{H}_{2}}O ;Mn{{O}_{2}}+4HCl\to MnC{{l}_{2}}+C{{l}_{2}}+2{{H}_{2}}O \\\$
d. Removal of electropositive element
For example: $2KI+C{{l}_{2}}\to 2KCl+{{I}_{2}}$

According to the electronic concept Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons from a species. If during the course of a chemical reaction, a species loses its electrons then the process is called oxidation. The species which undergoes oxidation is termed as reducing agent. Example: $Zn+2{{H}^{+}}\to Z{{n}^{+2}}+{{H}_{2}}$

In this reaction we can see that zinc loses its two electrons and develops a +2 charge, thus zinc is said to have undergone the process of oxidation and in this process, zinc is termed as a reducing agent as it is getting oxidized itself.

Note: Oxidation and reduction if occur together in a reaction, such reactions are termed as the redox reaction. In such reactions the substance which undergoes oxidation is termed as reducing agent and the one which undergoes reduction is termed as oxidizing agent. Oxidation have found its applications in various process of chemistry