From Soil to Fruit- Glossary
- Reduction
Reduction
Reduction is the receipt of electrons by an atom, ion or molecule during a reaction. The oxidation number decreases.
In the following example, ferric iron (Fe3+) is reduced to ferrous iron (Fe2+). Its oxidation number reduces from +3 to +2 when an electron is received:
Fe3+ + e- → Fe2+
This is a half-equation: reduction always occurs in the presence of oxidation. The reduction and oxidation half-equations together are called a reduction-oxidation reaction, or redox reaction.
See Oxidation, Oxidising Agent (Oxidant, Oxidiser), Reducing Agent (Reductant, Reducer), 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!