Difference between Oxidation and Reduction

A Chemical reaction is the process in which one or more substances react and hence as a result then converted to one or more different substances. The first kind of substances are the reactants and the second kind of substances are the products. Also, these substances are either chemical elements or compounds. Thus the chemical reaction rearranges the atoms of the reactants to create different substances. Also, there are many kinds of chemical reactions. One very common chemical reactions which often work together are oxidation and reduction. This kind of reaction is having the necessary exchange of electrons. In general, the pair of these two reactions are termed as redox reaction or reduction-oxidation reaction. Here we will see the difference between oxidation and reduction reaction. It is also a fact that these are the balanced chemical reactions

What is Oxidation Reaction?

Oxidation is the chemical reaction that causes the loss of electrons during the reaction by the reactants which may be a molecule, atom, or ion. This reaction occurs when the oxidation state of the molecule, atom, or ion is increased by one or more numbers. Therefore when two molecules react one molecule loses the electron during oxidation.

It can be understood also like the removal of the hydrogen group and the addition of the oxygen group. This reaction releases energy. These electrons are released to the surrounding. The oxidation state of the substances increases. It is very important to note that despite the name, oxygen need not be present in the oxidation reaction.

What is a Reduction Reaction?

This is the opposite process of oxidation. It occurs when there is a gain of electrons. It means in reduction reaction, there is a decrease in the oxidation state of an atom, molecule, or ion. Therefore after introducing two molecules to each other, one molecule may gain the electron in the reduction process.

It can be understood as the addition of the hydrogen group or removal of oxygen group. This reaction stores the energy and obtains the electrons from the surrounding. The oxidation state of the substances decreases. Reduction often occurs when metals are reacted with the acid.

Difference between Oxidation and Reduction

The important difference between oxidation and reduction

Sr No.	Parameters	Oxidation reaction	Reduction reaction
1.	Movement of electrons	It is the process of loss of electrons.	It is the process of gain of electrons.
2.	Change in oxidation number	There is an increase in the oxidation number.	There is a decrease in the oxidation number.
3.	Hydrogen group	For a given compound it is the loss of hydrogen.	For a given compound it is the gain of hydrogen.
4.	Energy	It releases energy.	It stores energy.
5.	Oxygen atom	It is the gain of oxygen atoms.	It is the loss of oxygen atoms.
6.	Charge status	Oxidation increases the positive charge of a chemical substance.	Reduction increases the negative charge of a chemical substance.
7.	Oxidizing and reducing agents	It occurs in Reducing agents.	It occurs in Oxidising agents.
8.	Examples	Some oxidizing agents are Ozone, Bleach, Peroxide.	The common reducing agents are metal.

These were some main difference between oxidation and reduction reaction. Let us study some more details.

Some more facts about Oxidation and Reduction

1. Oxidation and Reduction in the reference of oxygen transfer:

During the old era of chemistry, oxidation and reduction both were associated with an oxygen atom. Thus oxidation refers to the gain of oxygen and reduction refers to the loss of oxygen. Here the term ‘reduction’ came from Latin which means for ‘-to lead back’. Hence anything which leads back to the free metal state is termed as the reduction reaction.

2. Oxidation and Reduction in the reference of electron transfer:

Electron transfer is the most widely used definition for the oxidation and reduction reactions, as it is a very obvious and clear way to identify the reaction. Thus oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons without any doubt. There is a popular mnemonic to remember this concept, which is “OIL- RIG”. Its expansion is as Oxidation Is the Loss but Reduction Is the Gain.

FAQs about Oxidation and Reduction

Q.1: What is the meaning of popular mnemonics “’LEO the Lion Says GER”?

Solution: Its expansion is to Lose Electrons in Oxidation and Gain Electrons in Reduction.

Q.2: Give a suitable example of a Redox reaction.

Solution: Redox reactions are common but sometimes occurring at a slow pace as in the formation of rust, and sometimes at a rapid pace as in the case of burning fuel. Also, there are some simple redox reactions like oxidation of carbon to produce carbon dioxide and the reduction of carbon by the hydrogen to produce methane and on the other hand some complex processes like the oxidation of glucose in the human body.