Reoxidised

Reoxidised is a term used in chemistry to describe a substance that has undergone a process of re-oxidation. This implies that the substance was previously in a reduced state, meaning it gained electrons, and has now lost electrons to become oxidized. Oxidation is a chemical reaction that involves the loss of electrons, often accompanied by an increase in oxidation state. Conversely, reduction is the gain of electrons, leading to a decrease in oxidation state. Therefore, a reoxidised substance has been subjected to conditions that reverse a prior reduction.

The concept of re-oxidation is fundamental in various chemical and biological processes. In industrial chemistry, it can be a crucial step in the regeneration of catalysts or in the purification of certain materials. For instance, some catalysts become deactivated over time due to the buildup of reduced species. Re-oxidising these catalysts restores their active form, allowing them to continue their function. In biological systems, re-oxidation is vital for many metabolic pathways, such as cellular respiration, where intermediate molecules are re-oxidised to release energy. The term emphasizes that the process is a second, or subsequent, oxidation event after a period of reduction.