oxidise

Oxidise is a chemical process involving the loss of electrons by a substance. This loss typically occurs when a substance reacts with oxygen, hence the name. However, oxidation can also happen in reactions where oxygen is not directly involved. For example, the reaction of a metal with a halogen can be an oxidation.

In an oxidation-reduction reaction, also known as a redox reaction, one substance is oxidised while another is reduced. Reduction is the opposite of oxidation, involving the gain of electrons. In any redox reaction, the number of electrons lost by the oxidised substance must equal the number of electrons gained by the reduced substance.

Oxidation plays a significant role in many natural and industrial processes. Rusting of iron is a common example of oxidation, where iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water to form iron oxides. Combustion, the process of burning fuels like wood or natural gas, is also an oxidation reaction where the fuel reacts rapidly with oxygen, releasing heat and light.

In biological systems, oxidation is crucial for life. Cellular respiration, the process by which organisms convert glucose and oxygen into energy, involves a series of oxidation steps. Enzymes often catalyse these biological oxidation reactions, ensuring they occur at a controlled rate within living cells. Conversely, antioxidants are substances that inhibit oxidation, protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals, which are highly reactive molecules often produced through oxidation processes.