Redox via Oxygen Transfer
Oxidation = Gain of Oxygen · Reduction = Loss of Oxygen
The Hot Potato Analogy
Imagine oxygen is a hot potato. In a redox reaction, one substance throws it, and another catches it.
Catches the potato
OXIDATION
Gains oxygen
Throws the potato
REDUCTION
Loses oxygen
⚠️ Examiner Trap
Both oxidation AND reduction happen in the SAME reaction simultaneously. This is why we call them REDOX reactions.
🔥 The Blast Furnace — Oxygen Tracker
Fe₂O₃ + 3CO → 2Fe + 3CO₂
Fe₂O₃ → Fe
Iron oxide loses 3 oxygen atoms.
∴ REDUCTION
CO → CO₂
Carbon monoxide gains an oxygen atom.
∴ OXIDATION
🏷️ Tag the Reaction
For each substance, decide: did it gain or lose oxygen?
2Mg + O₂ → 2MgO
Mg — What happened to Mg?
CuO + H₂ → Cu + H₂O
CuO — What happened to CuO?
CuO + H₂ → Cu + H₂O
H₂ — What happened to H₂?
🔀 Definition Sorter
Click a definition, then click the matching term.
Definitions
Terms
📋 Core Summary
| Term | Oxygen Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Oxidation | Gain of oxygen | C + O₂ → CO₂ |
| Reduction | Loss of oxygen | Fe₂O₃ → 2Fe |
⚠️ Examiner Trap #1
A reducing agent causes reduction of another substance — but it is itself oxidised. Students confuse the agent with the process it causes.
⚠️ Examiner Trap #2
CO is the reducing agent in the blast furnace — it reduces Fe₂O₃. But CO itself is oxidised to CO₂.
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