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Chemistry LibreTexts

Reduction

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1. If, in a reaction, the oxidation number of an atom in a reactant decreases, the atom is said to undergo reduction.

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2. If, in a species subjected to a reaction, the sum of oxidation numbers of atoms that participate in the overall reaction decreases, the species is said to undergo reduction.

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In 1, the sum of oxidation numbers of atoms that participate in the reaction decreases from 0 to -2; 1 is reduced.

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In 2, the sum of oxidation numbers of atoms that participate in the reaction decreases from -2 to -4; 2 is reduced.

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In 3, the sum of oxidation numbers of atoms that participate in the reaction decreases from -2 to -4; 3 is reduced.

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In 4, the sum of oxidation numbers of atoms that participate in the reaction decreases from -4 to -6; 4 is reduced.

In most reductions, the species reduced either gains hydrogen (eg. 1 and 3), loses oxygen (eg. 2), or both. Traditionally, in casual usage, a reduction reaction involving neither is not referred to as a reduction.

see also oxidation


This page titled Reduction is shared under a All Rights Reserved (used with permission) license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Gamini Gunawardena via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.

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