Final answer:
In a polar covalent bond, the atom that ends up with the greater share of electrons is oxidized, while the atom with a lesser share of electrons is reduced.
Step-by-step explanation:
In a polar covalent bond, the atom that ends up with the greater share of electrons is said to be oxidized, while the other atom with a lesser share of electrons is said to be reduced.
This is because in a polar covalent bond, the electrons are shared unequally, with one atom exerting a stronger force of attraction on the electrons than the other.
The atom with a greater share of electrons becomes more negative, while the atom with a lesser share of electrons becomes more positive.