Answer:
Oxidation and reduction are chemical processes involving the transfer of electrons between substances. These processes often occur together and are referred to as redox reactions.
1. **Oxidation:**
- Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a substance.
- It involves an increase in the oxidation state or a decrease in the number of electrons.
2. **Reduction:**
- Reduction is the gain of electrons by a substance.
- It involves a decrease in the oxidation state or an increase in the number of electrons.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oxidation;
Example: In the reaction (2Na + Cl_2 \rightarrow 2NaCl), sodium (Na) is oxidized because it loses an electron to form (Na^+).
Reduction:
Example: In the same reaction (2Na + Cl_2 \rightarrow 2NaCl), chlorine (Cl) is reduced because it gains an electron to form (2Cl^-).