The process of changing copper into copper oxide is called an oxidation. As far as the copper atoms are concerned, the process involves removing two electrons, to form copper ions: Cu Cu2+ + 2e–
The term oxidation is extended to include gain of oxygen or removal of electrons: in
some circumstances it can also involve removal of hydrogen from a molecule. In electrolysis, the process which occurs at the anode always involves removal of electrons, and so is an oxidation.
Reduction is defined as the reverse of oxidation: loss of oxygen, gain of electrons
or gain of In electrolysis the cathode process involves positive ions gaining hydrogen. electrons, and so is a reduction.
Oxidation and reduction always occur together in a chemical reaction: if one
substance is oxidised, another must be reduced. Reactions involving oxidation and reduction are called redox reactions.
In the examples below the underlined atom is being oxidised, while the one with a double underline is being reduced:
Note that redox reactions generally involve changing between an element and its compound, or changing the valency of an atom.
An oxidising agent is a substance which causes another to be oxidised (and so is
itself reduced) e.g. in the last equation Cl2 is the oxidising agent and FeCl2is the reducing agent.
N.B. a precipitation reaction like the chloride test:
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NaCl(aq) + AgNO3(aq) NaNO3(aq) + AgCl(s) is not a redox process.
Redox reactions involving ions are electron transfer processes: the atom which loses electrons is being oxidised, while the atom which gains is being reduced.
For the reactions above, we can show the separate processes as HALF EQUATIONS:
Cu Cu2+ + 2e– (Cu oxidised) and O2 + 4e– 2O2–(O2 reduced)
Zn Zn2+ + 2e– and Cu2+ + 2e– Cu Mg Mg2+ + 2e– and 2H+ + 2e– H2 2Br– Br2 + 2e– and Cl2 + 2e– 2Cl– 2CO + O2– CO2 + 2e– and Fe3+ + 3e– Fe Fe2+ Fe3+ + e– and Fe3+ + e– Fe2+
