Question

What is the difference between oxidation and reduction?
Plz, explain with easy examples.

Answer 1

Explanation:

Oxidation is when the total number of electrons increases in a reaction; reduction is when the total number of electrons decreases in a reaction.

Consider the reaction between zinc metal and hydrochloric acid.

Zn(s) + 2 HCl(aq) → ZnCl2(aq) + H2(g)

If this reaction where broken down to the ion level:

Zn(s) + 2 H+(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + 2 Cl-(aq) + 2 H2(g)

First, look at what happens to the zinc atoms. Initially, we have a neutral zinc atom. As the reaction progresses, the zinc atom loses two electrons to become a Zn2+ ion.

Zn(s) → Zn2+(aq) + 2 e-

The zinc was oxidized into Zn2+ ions. This reaction is an oxidation reaction.

The second part of this reaction involves the hydrogen ions. The hydrogen ions are gaining electrons and bonding together to form dihydrogen gas.

2 H+ + 2 e- → H2(g)

The hydrogen ions each gained an electron to form the neutrally charged hydrogen gas. The hydrogen ions are said to be reduced and the reaction is a reduction reaction. Since both processes are going on at the same time, the initial reaction is called an oxidation-reduction reaction. This type of reaction is also called a redox reaction (REDuction/OXidation).

Answer 2

Answer:

Oxidation means the ADDITION OF OXYGEN or the REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN

Reduction is just the opposite...

Reduction is the REMOVAL OF OXYGEN and ADDITION OF HYDROGEN.

A simple examples for oxidation is :

2Mg + O2 ---> 2MgO

Here, there is an addition of O2, and Mg is oxidized.

A simple example for reduction is:

H2 + F2 ---> 2HF

Here, addition of H2 is taking place, and fluorine is reduced.

Hope u understand!