Oxidation and Reduction

What Are they?

An easy way to remember them is by using the acronym OIL RIG.

Oxidation and Reduction are used to describe changes in substances in reactions. ​To help us understand what oxidation and reduction actually are, we'll use the example of Copper ions becoming copper.

Here, the copper is gaining electrons, so it is being reduced. This is a reduction reaction. If this reaction was reversed, it would show the ionisation of copper.

In this reaction, Oxygen is losing electrons so it is being oxidised. Usually in this equation, you'd move the electrons to the right hand side but I'm keeping them on the left to help you visualise what's happening

What's Redox?

A Redox reaction is a reaction where oxidation and reduction are happening at the same time. For example, the reaction of Copper with Oxygen, the Oxygen loses 2 electrons (gets oxidised), and the copper gains 2 electrons (gets reduced). The Copper in this reaction steals electrons from Oxygen so it is responsible for oxidising oxygen, so it gets called the oxidising agent. The Oxygen gives electrons to Copper in this reaction so it is responsible for reducing copper, and therefore gets called the reducing agent in this reaction.

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And That's It!

I hope this was useful, if you have any questions, feel free to comment or contact me.