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Chemistry vocabulary · Reactions and Equations

Redox reaction

Meaning in chemistry, with examples

nounCommon term

In chemistry, redox reaction means: A reaction in which electrons move from one substance to another, so that one substance is oxidized while another is reduced at the same time.

In Turkish: redoks tepkimesi, yükseltgenme-indirgenme tepkimesi

How it is used

Covers combustion, corrosion, batteries and many titrations. You balance redox reactions with half-equations and identify the oxidizing and reducing agents. 'Redox' is short for reduction–oxidation.

Example sentences

  1. Identify which species is oxidized and which is reduced in this redox reaction.

  2. A battery produces electricity from a controlled redox reaction.

Common collocations

  • balance a redox reaction
  • redox titration
  • half-equation
  • oxidizing agent
  • reducing agent
  • oxidationA change in which a substance loses electrons, so its oxidation number goes up. It often involves gaining oxygen or losing hydrogen.
  • reductionA change in which a substance gains electrons, so its oxidation number goes down. It often involves losing oxygen or gaining hydrogen.
  • electronA tiny particle with a negative charge that moves around the nucleus of an atom. Chemical bonds and reactions are mostly about how these particles are shared or transferred.
  • titrationA method for finding the unknown concentration of a solution by adding a solution of known concentration from a burette until the reaction between them is just complete.

More terms: Reactions and Equations

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