Final answer:
A redox reaction can be a combination reaction, single replacement reaction, or decomposition reaction, as they all can involve changes in oxidation states of reactants. Therefore, more than one response is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
Oxidation-reduction reactions, or simply redox reactions, are essential chemical processes where the oxidation state of atoms changes through the transfer of electrons. In a redox reaction, one reactant is oxidized (loses electrons) and another is reduced (gains electrons).
In terms of types of reactions, redox reactions can manifest in several forms:
- A combination reaction is a type of redox reaction where two or more substances combine to form a single new substance. Here, elements typically change their oxidation states as they are combined into compounds.
- A single-replacement reaction is another form of redox reaction. It involves an element in a compound being replaced by another element. This process often includes a change in oxidation numbers because free elements have an oxidation number of zero, while elements in compounds do not.
- Decomposition reactions can also be redox reactions when they involve the breakdown of a compound into elements or simpler compounds, with accompanying changes in oxidation numbers.
Given this information, the correct answer to the student's question is d. more than one response is correct.
Not all reaction types are redox, however. For example, double-replacement reactions generally are not redox reactions as they typically involve the exchange of ions without a change in oxidation number for the elements involved.