Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons from an atom or molecule during a chemical reaction. It involves an increase in the oxidation state of the species.
Related terms
Reduction: Reduction is the opposite of oxidation and involves the gain of electrons by an atom or molecule during a chemical reaction.