Question

True or false: \begin{equation} \begin{array}{l}{\text { (a) Oxidation can occur without oxygen. }} \\ {\text { (b) Oxidation can occur without reduction. }}\end{array} \end{equation}

Short answer

(a) True: Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons and is not limited to reactions involving oxygen, so it can occur without the presence of oxygen. (b) False: In redox reactions, oxidation and reduction must occur simultaneously - electrons lost by one species must be gained by another species. Hence, oxidation cannot occur without reduction.

Step-by-step solution

Understand oxidation

Oxidation is the process of losing electrons. While the term "oxidation" is derived from the element oxygen, the concept of oxidation is not limited to reactions involving oxygen.

Determine the truth of the statement

Since oxidation refers to the loss of electrons and is not limited to reactions involving oxygen, it is possible for oxidation to occur without the presence of oxygen. Therefore, statement (a) is True. Statement (b): "Oxidation can occur without reduction."

Understand reduction

Reduction is the process of gaining electrons. In any chemical reaction involving redox (reduction-oxidation) processes, one species loses electrons (oxidation) and another species gains electrons (reduction).

Determine the truth of the statement

In redox reactions, oxidation and reduction must occur simultaneously - electrons lost by one species must be gained by another species. Therefore, oxidation cannot occur without reduction. Statement (b) is False.

Key concepts

Oxidation

Oxidation is a fundamental concept in chemistry and is all about the loss of electrons. It often gets a bit confusing because the term originates from when scientists discovered that oxygen often caused substances to lose electrons during reactions. However, it's important to note that oxidation is not restricted to just reactions involving oxygen. It happens whenever a substance loses electrons, regardless of whether oxygen is present.
For example, when a metal like iron reacts with substances like sulfur or nitrogen, it is still an oxidation process due to electron loss. This concept is essential because it shows that oxygen does not have to be involved; thus, oxidation can undoubtedly occur without oxygen. This makes statement (a) in the exercise true. Understanding oxidation helps in analyzing various chemical reactions, whether they involve oxygen or not.

• Oxidation = Loss of electrons
• Not limited to oxygen-based reactions
• Crucial in many chemical processes

Reduction

Reduction is the other side of the redox (reduction-oxidation) coin. It's all about the gaining of electrons. In any redox reaction, the electrons that one substance loses during oxidation are picked up by another substance, which undergoes reduction. This means that oxidation and reduction are two sides of the same chemical process and occur simultaneously.
This dual nature clarifies why statement (b) in the exercise is false. You can't have oxidation without reduction because, in any electron transfer, there needs to be both a donor (the oxidized substance) and an acceptor (the reduced substance). Understanding this helps explain why reactions like rusting or cellular respiration happen the way they do. Reduction is crucial to complete the electron transfer cycle in redox reactions.

• Reduction = Gain of electrons
• Pairs with oxidation in redox reactions
• Vital for understanding electron transfer processes

Electron Transfer

Electron transfer is the heart of redox reactions. It is the process where electrons move from one atom or molecule to another. This transfer of electrons is what keeps a balance in redox reactions - one loses electrons (oxidation) and the other gains (reduction). Without electron transfer, redox reactions would not occur.
In simpler terms, imagine one atom with too many electrons and another craving electrons - the transfer naturally aims to balance them out. For instance, in batteries, electron transfer between chemicals gives us electricity. Therefore, understanding electron transfer is crucial for grasping how energy is generated or used in chemical reactions. This process showcases interdependence across atoms, molecules, or ions for balance in reactions.

• Core of redox reactions
• Balances oxidation-reduction
• Essential for energy flow in chemical systems