Question

Oxidation is defined as
A. Gain of neutrons
B. Loss of electrons
C. Gain of electrons
D. Loss of neutrons

Answer 1

Hint: Oxidation is a term related to oxygen transfer. Oxidation is also defined in terms of oxidation numbers. The oxidation number is the total number of electrons that an atom either gains or loses to form a chemical bond with another atom.

Complete Step by step solution:
The term oxidation was originally used to describe reactions in which an element combines with oxygen
In terms of oxygen transfer, oxidation may be defined as the chemical process in which a substance gains oxygen or loses electrons and hydrogen.
When one of the reactants is oxygen, then oxidation is the gain of oxygen.
Oxidation may be defined as a chemical change in which there occurs an increase in the oxidation number of an atom or atoms.
Let’s consider one example for an explanation of oxidation, the reaction between magnesium metal and oxygen to form magnesium oxide involves the oxidation of magnesium. The oxidation number of magnesium gets increased and it losses the electrons so we can say that magnesium undergoes oxidation.

Hence we conclude that oxidation is the loss of electrons and the accurate answer of the given question is option (B) loss of electrons.

Note: Don’t get confused between oxidation and reduction. Oxidation is the loss of electrons and Reduction is the gain of electrons or oxidation meant gaining oxygen and Reduction meant losing oxygen. When oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously in a reaction the reaction is called a redox reaction.