If a substance accepts oxygen during the reaction, it is called ________.

Key Points

• A substance that accepts oxygen during a reaction is said to be oxidized.
• Oxidation involves the gain of oxygen or loss of hydrogen in a chemical reaction.
• This process is a part of redox reactions where one substance is oxidized and another is reduced.
• Oxidation can also be defined as the loss of electrons from a molecule, atom, or ion.
• Common examples of oxidation include the rusting of iron and the burning of fuels.

Additional Information

• The term oxidation was originally used to describe reactions in which an element combines with oxygen.
• In modern terms, oxidation is a broader concept and includes any reaction where an atom, ion, or molecule loses electrons.
• Reduction is the opposite process, where a substance gains electrons or loses oxygen.
• Oxidation and reduction reactions are always coupled; when one substance is oxidized, another is reduced.
• These reactions are fundamental to various biological and industrial processes, including cellular respiration and metal extraction.