oksüdatsioonid

Oksüdatsioonid, more commonly known as oxidations in English, refers to chemical processes involving the loss of electrons from a molecule, atom, or ion. This loss results in an increase in the oxidation state of the species undergoing oxidation. Oxidation is a fundamental concept in chemistry and is often paired with reduction, a process where electrons are gained. Together, these two processes constitute a redox reaction.

In many common examples, oxidation involves the reaction of a substance with oxygen. For instance, the rusting of iron is a form of oxidation where iron reacts with oxygen to form iron oxides. Similarly, the burning of fuels like wood or natural gas is a rapid oxidation process that releases energy. However, oxidation does not always require the presence of oxygen. It can occur through the transfer of electrons to other oxidizing agents.

The concept of oxidation state is crucial for understanding these reactions. The oxidation state is a hypothetical charge that an atom would have if all its bonds to different atoms were 100% ionic. When a substance is oxidized, its oxidation state increases. For example, in the reaction of iron with oxygen, the oxidation state of iron changes from 0 to +3 in iron(III) oxide. Understanding oxidation is vital in various fields, including biochemistry, where metabolic processes like cellular respiration involve controlled oxidation of molecules to produce energy, and in industrial chemistry for processes like the production of acids and salts.