What is meant by oxidation and reduction?

[abi.ayan]

what is meant by oxidation and reduction and what are the differences between them?Though there is oxidation number why there is no number to represent reduction?

 

[Borek]

No definitions in your book? If not, try to google them.

Once you will know definitions it should be obvious why there is one number that serves both purposes.

 

[guyknowslittle]

this is a very good question.

oxidation and reduction describe the loss or gain, respectively, in the number of electrons. For example Li+ ion can be reduced to Li0 (also known as elemental or lithium metal) if one electron is added to it. Similarly, S2- ion can be oxidized to S0 (elemental sulfur) ion by removing two electrons. If multiple covalent bonds exist between atoms (common in organic compounds), reduction manifests in the decrease in the number of bonds. A double bond will be reduced to a single bond (due to a gain in the overall number of electrons by addition of hydrogen).

the reason the oxidation state of an atom is monitored in a compound is simply convention. the reduction state could be monitored as well, in principle.

most chemical reactions involve a gain or loss of electrons.

 

[Einstein Mcfly]

this is a very good question.

oxidation and reduction describe the loss or gain, respectively, in the number of electrons. For example Li+ ion can be reduced to Li0 (also known as elemental or lithium metal) if one electron is added to it. Similarly, S2- ion can be oxidized to S0 (elemental sulfur) ion by removing two electrons. If multiple covalent bonds exist between atoms (common in organic compounds), reduction manifests in the decrease in the number of bonds. A double bond will be reduced to a single bond (due to a gain in the overall number of electrons by addition of hydrogen).

the reason the oxidation state of an atom is monitored in a compound is simply convention. the reduction state could be monitored as well, in principle.

most chemical reactions involve a gain or loss of electrons.

This is certainly how we MODEL oxidation and reduction, but I wonder if the way it manifests experimentally is just more of a series of patterns in reactivaty that we describe in terms of "oxidation state" and whatnot. Partial charge, after all, is not an experimental observable. I have heard of people trying to use EXAFS or some such thing to gauge the charge density around certain nuclei in certain environments, but that's not really the same thing.

 

[LudusRex]

Oxidation and reduction are two chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons between molecules. Oxidation is the process of losing electrons, while reduction is the process of gaining electrons. These processes are often referred to as redox reactions.

In oxidation, the molecule that is losing electrons is known as the reducing agent, as it is causing the other molecule to be reduced. In contrast, the molecule that is gaining electrons is known as the oxidizing agent, as it is causing the other molecule to be oxidized.

The main difference between oxidation and reduction is the direction of electron transfer. In oxidation, electrons are lost from the reducing agent and gained by the oxidizing agent. In reduction, electrons are gained by the reducing agent and lost by the oxidizing agent.

The concept of oxidation numbers is used to keep track of which molecules are being oxidized or reduced in a redox reaction. These numbers represent the number of electrons that an atom has gained or lost. However, there is no specific number to represent reduction because the number of electrons gained can vary depending on the specific reaction.

In summary, oxidation and reduction are two chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons between molecules. They are opposite processes and are essential for many biological and chemical reactions. The concept of oxidation numbers is used to keep track of these processes, but there is no specific number to represent reduction as the number of electrons gained can vary.