<h2 class="title">Revision of oxidation and reduction</h2>
You should remember the terms oxidation and reduction from Grade 11:
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\(\color{blue}{\textbf{Oxidation}}\) involves a loss of electrons
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\(\color{red}{\textbf{Reduction}}\) involves a gain of electrons.
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An easy way to remember this is:
<img alt="3d966cf949e574c1733e6fdd22e8a347.png" src="https://data.ulearngo.com/assets/e6709e20-61b4-44ca-b9a2-c548eab63e95"/>
In both oxidation and reduction a transfer of electrons is involved resulting in a <a data-lesson="chemistry-104-summary-1" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="physical-and-chemical-change" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/physical-and-chemical-change/chemistry-104-summary-1">change</a> in the oxidation state of the elements.
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An <a data-lesson="elements" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="classification-of-matter" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/classification-of-matter/elements">element</a> or compound that loses <a data-lesson="orbital-shapes-and-valence-electrons" data-subject="chemistry" data-tutorial="chemistry-essential-ideas" href="https://app.ulearngo.com/chemistry/chemistry-essential-ideas/orbital-shapes-and-valence-electrons">electrons</a> is \(\color{blue}{\textbf{oxidised}}\).
e.g. \(\color{blue}{\textbf{Zn(s)} \to {\textbf{Zn}}^{\textbf{2+}}\textbf{(aq) + 2e}^{\textbf{-}}}\)
As it loses electrons it gives them away to another element or compound and the element or compound it gives the electrons to is \(\color{red}{\textbf{reduced}}\).
This makes the compound or element which loses electrons a \(\color{blue}{\textbf{reducing agent}}\).
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An element or compound that gains electrons is \(\color{red}{\textbf{reduced}}\).
e.g. \(\color{red}{\textbf{Cu}^{\textbf{2+}}{\textbf{(aq) + 2e}}^{\textbf{-}} \to \textbf{Cu(s)}}\)
As it gains electrons it takes them away from another element or compound and the element or compound it takes them from is \(\color{blue}{\textbf{oxidised}}\).
This makes the compound or element which gains electrons an \(\color{red}{\textbf{oxidising agent}}\).
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Revision of Oxidation and Reduction

Chemistry generally explores the substances of which matter is composed, the investigation of their properties and reactions, and the use of such reactions to form new substances. 

Chemistry

Discover the principles and applications of electrochemical reactions as you explore topics ranging from oxidation and reduction, balancing redox reactions and half-reactions, and predicting current and rate of reaction to understanding the standard hydrogen electrode and practical applications like electrolysis, electroplating, and aluminium extraction.


Revision of Oxidation and Reduction

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