From Soil to Fruit- Glossary
- Oxidation
Oxidation
Oxidation is the loss of electrons by an atom, ion or molecule during a reaction. The oxidation number increases.
In the following example, ferrous iron (Fe2+) is oxidised to ferric iron (Fe3+). Its oxidation number increases from +2 to +3 when an electron is lost:
Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e-
This is a half-equation: oxidation always occurs in the presence of reduction. The oxidation and reduction half-equations together are called a reduction-oxidation reaction, or redox reaction.
See Reduction, Reducing Agent (Reductant, Reducer), Oxidising Agent (Oxidant, Oxidiser), and Redox (Reduction-Oxidation).
Created by kristi • Last edit by kristi on 18/05/21 04:13 pm
About the Author
Kristi Ellinopoullos
BSc(Hons), U.Syd. - double major in biochemistry and microbiology, with honours in microbiology
PhD, U.Syd - soil microbiology
Stumbled into IT and publishing of all things.
Discovered jujube trees and realised that perhaps I should have been an agronomist...
So I combined all the above passions and interests into this website and its blog and manuals, on which I write about botany, soil chemistry, soil microbiology and biochemistry - and yes, jujubes too!
BSc(Hons), U.Syd. - double major in biochemistry and microbiology, with honours in microbiology
PhD, U.Syd - soil microbiology
Stumbled into IT and publishing of all things.
Discovered jujube trees and realised that perhaps I should have been an agronomist...
So I combined all the above passions and interests into this website and its blog and manuals, on which I write about botany, soil chemistry, soil microbiology and biochemistry - and yes, jujubes too!
Please help me buy a plant if you found this article interesting or useful!