oxidation

UK/ɒksɪˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/US/ˌɑksɪˈdeɪʃ(ə)n/

nounB2+Rare in speech; mostly a word you read · #12,344 of 15,258mostly written

Other forms: oxidations

Oxidation is the slow reaction with oxygen that rusts iron and browns apples. Prevent oxidation, oxidation of the metal, an oxidation reaction.

The everyday sense is reaction with oxygen. The chemical definition is broader and does not need oxygen at all: oxidation is the loss of electrons, and reduction is the gain — which is why the pair is called redox and why the name is now slightly misleading. Note antioxidant, which is a substance that slows the process.

Definitions of oxidation

1nounoxidationReaction with oxygen, or the loss of electrons.B2+
“Oxidation turns a cut apple brown after a few minutes.”

oxidation is a chemical reaction.

Where it comes from

French oxydation comes from oxide, from Greek oxys, sharp or acid. Oxygen was named on the mistaken belief that it was the acid-former.

French
oxydation
English, today
oxidation

From French oxydation, equivalent to oxide + -ation. See oxidate.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in Science & Space, Chemistry & Elements

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oxidation in the wild

In chemistry, the oxidation state, or oxidation number, is the hypothetical charge of an atom assuming all of its bonds to other atoms are fully ionic.
Oxidation state
The term oxidation was first used by Antoine Lavoisier to signify the reaction of a substance with oxygen.
Oxidation state
Oxidation is the loss of electrons or an increase in the oxidation state.
Redox
Reduction is the gain of electrons or a decrease in the oxidation state.
Redox
An agent's oxidation state describes its degree of loss of electrons, where the higher the oxidation state then the fewer electrons it has.
Reducing agent

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From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

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