Innovating Science® Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Study oxidation-reduction reactions.

The term oxidation can mean the chemical combination of a substance with oxygen and reduction can be the removal of oxygen from a compound. When oxygen reacts with any other element (except fluorine) it acquires electrons from that element. The element that donated the electrons is said to be reduced. Three experiments will be run where a compound, which is colorless in solution when reduced, is converted to a deeply colored solution when oxidized. The complete balanced reactions for each step should be written showing the transfer of electrons during oxidation and reduction.