Oxidointi

Oxidointi, often translated as oxidation, is a fundamental chemical process involving the loss of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion. This loss of electrons typically leads to an increase in the oxidation state of the species undergoing oxidation. Conversely, reduction is the complementary process where a species gains electrons, leading to a decrease in its oxidation state. In most chemical reactions, oxidation and reduction occur simultaneously; such reactions are known as redox reactions.

Common examples of oxidation include the rusting of iron, where iron atoms lose electrons to oxygen, and the burning of fuels, where carbon and hydrogen atoms lose electrons. In biological systems, cellular respiration is a prime example of oxidation, where glucose is broken down to release energy, with electrons being transferred through a series of intermediate molecules. The term "oxidation" originally referred to reactions involving oxygen, as oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent, readily accepting electrons. However, the definition has since been broadened to encompass any process involving electron loss, regardless of the presence of oxygen. Oxidizing agents are substances that cause other substances to be oxidized, while they themselves are reduced.