Oxidation and Reduction

• Reduction = gain of electrons.
• The oxidizing agent is the substance that accepts electrons from another substance.
• The reducing agent is the substance that donates electrons to another substance.
• In redox reactions, one species acts as both an oxidising agent (accepting electrons) and a reducing agent (donating electrons).
• A redox reaction involves both reduction and oxidation occurring simultaneously.
• Reduction occurs when a substance gains electrons or loses oxygen atoms.
• Oxidation - loss of electrons
• When an atom gains electrons, its oxidation number decreases; when it loses electrons, its oxidation number increases.
• When two substances undergo chemical change, it can be described as oxidation or reduction.
• Oxidation reaction involves the loss of electrons by a species