ZIMSEC O Level Combined Science Notes: Differences between reduction and oxidation

  • There are differences between oxidation and reduction
  • The table below shows the differences between oxidation and reduction:
OxidationReduction
There is addition of oxygenThere is removal of oxygen
There is removal of hydrogenThere is addition of hydrogen
Oxidising agentReducing agent
It adds oxygenIt removes oxygen
It removes hydrogenIt adds hydrogen
  • Often reduction and oxidation occur in conjunction
  • That is at the same time and during the same reaction
  • For example:
  • \text{ammonia+oxygen}\rightarrow\text{water+nitrogen dioxide}
  • Nitrogen gains oxygen and losses hydrogen (this is the oxidation part of the equation)
  • Oxygen gains hydrogen (the reduction part of the equation)

To access more topics go to the Combined Science Notes page.