Final answer:
In a redox reaction, the species that gains electrons is the one that is reduced. This is accompanied by a decrease in oxidation number. These processes occur simultaneously in redox reactions where one species is oxidized and another is reduced.Correct answer is option C.
Step-by-step explanation:
The species that is reduced in a redox reaction is best described as the species that gains electrons. This gain of electrons corresponds to a decrease in oxidation number of the species. An example of a redox reaction is the reaction between carbon and oxygen to form carbon dioxide, C (s) + O2 (g) → CO2 (g), wherein oxygen is reduced as it gains electrons, going from an oxidation number of zero to -2.
In redox reactions, two processes occur simultaneously: oxidation and reduction. The entity that loses electrons is oxidized, while the entity that gains electrons is reduced. It is essential to recognize that redox reactions involve the transfer of electrons; one species is oxidized and loses electrons, becoming more positive, while the other species is reduced and gains electrons, becoming more negative.