Question

(a) What is meant by the term oxidation? (b) On which side of an oxidation half-reaction do the electrons appear? (c) What is meant by the term oxidant? (d) What is meant by the term oxidizing agent?

Short answer

(a) Oxidation is a chemical process in which a substance loses electrons, resulting in an increase in its oxidation state. It usually involves a gain of oxygen or a loss of hydrogen atoms. (b) In an oxidation half-reaction, electrons appear on the right side (product side) of the equation, as the reactant loses electrons transferred to another substance. (c) An oxidant, also known as an oxidizing agent or electron acceptor, is a substance that gains electrons from other substances during a chemical reaction, promoting their oxidation. (d) An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes another substance to lose electrons in a redox reaction. It gains electrons from the substance being oxidized and is reduced itself, driving the redox reaction forward.

Step-by-step solution

(a) Define Oxidation)

Oxidation is a chemical process in which a substance loses one or more electrons, resulting in an increase in its oxidation state. This process is usually accompanied by a gain of oxygen or a loss of hydrogen atoms. In simple terms, oxidation can be seen as the process where a molecule, atom, or ion becomes more positively charged due to the loss of electrons.

(b) Side of Oxidation Half-reaction)

In an oxidation half-reaction, the electrons appear on the right side (or the product side) of the equation. This is because the reactant (substance being oxidized) is losing electrons, and these electrons are then transferred to another substance.

(c) Define Oxidant)

An oxidant, also known as an oxidizing agent or electron acceptor, is a substance that has the ability to gain electrons from other substances during a chemical reaction. In other words, it promotes the oxidation of other substances by accepting the electrons released during the oxidation process.

(d) Define Oxidizing Agent)

An oxidizing agent is a substance that causes another substance to lose electrons in a redox reaction. It gains electrons from the substance being oxidized and, therefore, is reduced itself. The oxidizing agent is essential in driving the redox reaction forward, as it is responsible for removing electrons from the reducing agent (or the substance being oxidized) and facilitating the electron transfer process.