Chapter 19, Problem 39R

To determine

To explain: The comparison and contrast between the oxidation and reduction.

Answer to Problem 39R

The oxidation process involves the loss of electrons during the chemical reaction while the reduction process involves the gain of electrons during the reaction.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The redox reactions are those chemical reactions which involves the oxidation process as well as the reduction process. The oxidation process has happened in a reaction when the loss of electrons or the addition of oxygen takes place and the reduction process has happened when the addition of hydrogen atom or gain of electrons takes place in a reaction.

The process in which loss of electrons or the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen has occurred is called the oxidation process while the process in which the gain of electrons or removal of oxygen or the addition of hydrogen has happened is called the reduction process. Due to the loss of electrons, the oxidation number is increased in the oxidation process but in the reduction process, the oxidation number is decreased due to the gaining of electrons. A certain amount of energy is released during the oxidation process while the energy is stored in the reduction process. Oxidation means the addition of oxygen and reduction means the addition of hydrogen or removal of oxygen.

Conclusion:

Thus, the oxidation and reduction processes are different from each other.