Oxidáció

Oxidáció is a chemical process where a substance loses electrons. This loss of electrons results in an increase in the oxidation state of the atom or molecule involved. It is a fundamental concept in chemistry and is often paired with reduction, where a substance gains electrons. Together, oxidation and reduction form a redox reaction.

Common examples of oxidation include the rusting of iron, where iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxides. Combustion, the rapid reaction between a substance with an oxidant, usually oxygen, to produce heat and light, is also a form of oxidation. In biological systems, cellular respiration involves the oxidation of glucose to produce energy. Photosynthesis, on the other hand, involves the reduction of carbon dioxide.

The term "oxidation" was originally associated with reactions involving oxygen, as oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent. However, the definition has been broadened to include any process involving the loss of electrons, even in the absence of oxygen. For instance, the reaction of sodium with chlorine to form sodium chloride involves the oxidation of sodium.

Oxidizing agents are substances that cause oxidation by accepting electrons from another substance. Oxygen itself is a common oxidizing agent, as are halogens like chlorine and bromine, and compounds like potassium permanganate and hydrogen peroxide. The ability of a substance to act as an oxidizing agent is related to its electronegativity.