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Glite Dictionary
oxidoreduction

oxidoreduction

9.9
A chemical change when one substance loses electrons and another gains them
  • noun
  • /ˌɑksɪdoʊrɪˈdʌkʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : oxidoreducción
  • The process of cellular respiration involves multiple oxidoreduction reactions to produce energy.

Examples

  • The experiment demonstrated the principle of oxidoreduction using an iron-copper cell.

  • Enzymes known as oxidoreductases catalyze oxidoreduction in biochemical pathways.

  • Oxidoreduction is fascinating.

  • The oxidoreduction process is vital.

  • The experiment demonstrated the principle of oxidoreduction using an iron-copper cell.

  • Enzymes known as oxidoreductases catalyze oxidoreduction in biochemical pathways.

  • The process of cellular respiration involves multiple oxidoreduction reactions to produce energy.

Synonyms

redox
vsoxidoreduction
  • Specialized
7 7.8

A chemical reaction where one substance gives electrons and another receives them

is the formal, longer technical term for that same reversible process
oxidation-reduction
vsoxidoreduction
  • Specialized
1 4.7

A chemical reaction where one substance loses electrons and another gains electrons

is the same idea but named as a single technical term

Surface Forms

oxidoreduction singular
oxidoreductions plural

Morphology

oxidoreduction = oxidation + reduction (transparent) = oxidation + reduction

The term is a straightforward technical compound of 'oxidation' + 'reduction' (linked by a connective 'o'), so its meaning follows directly from the two base chemistry terms.

Etymology

Oxidoreduction combines oxido- from oxygen (the common gas) and reduction from the verb reduce, which means 'make smaller' or 'bring back'. So oxidoreduction names chemical reactions where one substance is 'oxidized' and another is 'reduced'—they change in opposite ways, which is exactly the modern idea of a redox reaction.