8A.1 Electron loss and gain Flashcards
what is a redox reaction
it is a reaction that involves both oxidation and reduction
what is oxidation
when the oxidation number of an element increases: the loss of electrons
what is reduction
when the oxidation number of an element decrease; the gain of electrons
how can we describe the reduction of iron(III) oxide
the gain of 3 electrons by an iron(III) ion in an oxide
what is an oxidising agent
a species that oxides another species by removing one or more electrons
what is a reducing agent
a species that reduces another species by adding one or more electrons
an oxidising agent is always
reduced
a reducing agent is aways
oxidised
what is a disproportionate reaction
it is a reaction involving simultaneous oxidization and reduction of an element in the single species
