Question

What does the mnemonic OIL RIG indicate?

Answer 1

OIL RIG stands for 'Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain.' It helps remember the processes of oxidation and reduction in chemical reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The mnemonic OIL RIG stands for 'Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain.' It is commonly used in chemistry to help remember the processes of oxidation and reduction in chemical reactions. In oxidation, a substance loses electrons, while in reduction, a substance gains electrons.

For example, consider the reaction:

Zn + CuSO4 → ZnSO4 + Cu

In this reaction, zinc (Zn) loses two electrons and is oxidized, while copper (Cu2+) gains two electrons and is reduced. The Zn atoms lose two electrons because they are more reactive than Cu and are more likely to give up electrons.