Question

in terms of chemistry what happens actually when a molecule is oxidized?
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Answer 1

Answer:

Reduction is the loss of oxygen atom from a molecule or the gaining of one or more electrons. A reduction reaction is seen from the point of view of the molecule being reduced, as when one molecule gets reduced another gets oxidised. The full reaction is known as a Redox reaction. This is a good way of remembering it.

This can be remembered with the term OIL RIG when speaking about electrons.

Oxidation Is Loss

Reduction Is Gain

In the case of Organic Chemistry it is usually the case of the gaining/loss of Oxygen/Hydrogen