Question

Give an example of oxidation reaction.

Answer 1

Hint: Oxidation reaction is a reaction in which oxygen atom is added or hydrogen atom is lost. However, not all the oxidation reactions involve addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen atoms. - The reaction in which electrons are released is called oxidation reaction.

Complete step by step solution:
We will learn about the oxidation reaction.
- Oxidation reaction is a reaction in which oxygen atom is added or hydrogen atom is lost. However, not all the oxidation reactions involve addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen atoms. So, we also need to define it in terms of electrons donated.
- The reaction in which electrons are released is called oxidation reaction. Thus, the atom generally becomes positively charged as electrons are released by it in the oxidation reaction.
- We will take a look at the examples of oxidation reactions.
\[{H_2}O + \frac{1}{2}{O_2} \to {H_2}{O_2}\]
Here, we can see that one oxygen atom is added in the water molecule. So, it produces hydrogen peroxide molecules.
- Below is an example of an oxidation reaction where oxygen atoms are not added and hydrogen atoms are also not lost.
\[C{r^{3 + }} \to C{r^{6 + }} + 3{e^ - }\]
- We know that oxidation and reduction reactions occur simultaneously. So, when an oxidation reaction occurs, the reduction reaction must be occurring at the same time.
- We need oxidizing agents to make oxidation reactions occur successfully. Oxidizing agents like $F{e^{3 + }}$ can oxidize $C{r^{3 + }}$ ions to +6 oxidation state.
Thus, we can conclude that the reactions in which electrons are released are called oxidation reactions.

Note: Do not get confused between oxidation and reduction reactions. Actually both are inverse forms of each other. Reduction reaction is a reaction in which electrons are consumed. It can also be defined as the addition of hydrogen atoms.