Oxidation
Definition
Oxidation is the loss of electrons by a chemical species. In water systems it ranges from harmless electron exchange to destructive electron theft.
An oxidized species gives up one or more electrons to an oxidizing agent. Whether oxidation is benign or destructive depends on whether the electrons removed were structural to a material we care about. Oxidation never happens alone; it is always paired with reduction in a coupled redox reaction.
Related concepts
Reduction · Destructive oxidation · Transactional oxidation
How it connects
- this drives Corrosion
- Redox reaction requires this
Part of The Blueprint of Water · 🧪 chemistry