Question

can anyone describe the process of oxidation in simple terms?

Answer 1

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Answer 2

that's more a chemistry-question btw, but ahm.. oxidation is just the loss of electrons. Oxidants (electron acceptors) are usually chemical elements or substances with elements in high oxidation numbers e.g.: \[H_2O_2 , MnO_4^- , CrO_3 , Cr_2O_7^{2-} ,\] or highly electronegative substances/elements that can gain one or two extra electrons by oxidizing an element or substance: \[O, F, Cl, Br\]In nature, oxidation is usually one part of a so called Redox-reaction (REDuction - OXidation). For example rusting iron or simply a fire are exactly that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redox

Answer 3

This should go under the chemistry section but here you go:

The earliest view of oxidation and reduction is that of adding oxygen to form an oxide (oxidation) or removing oxygen (reduction). They always occur together.

For example, in the burning of hydrogen\[2H_2+0_2->2H_20,\]the hydrogen is oxidized and th oxygen is reduced. The combination of nitrogen and oxygen which occurs at high temperatures follows the same pattern.\[N_2+O_2 \ -> 2NO\]This formation of nitric oxide oxidizes the nitrogen and reduces the oxygen. in some reactions, the oxidation is most prominent. For example, the burning of methane,\[CH_4+2O_2 \ -> CO_2 + 2H_2O,\]both carbon and hydrogen are oxidized (gain oxygen). The accompanying reduction of oxygen is perhaps easier to see when you describe reduction as the gaining of hydrogen.

On the other hand, the reaction of lead dioxide at high temperatures to be just reduction appears to be just reduction. \[2PbO_2->2PbO+O_2\]The reduction of the lead dioxide is clear, but the associated oxidation of oxygen is easier to see when you describe oxidation as the losing of electrons.

Answer 4

The process of losing electrons from an atom is called oxidation.

Answer 5

not necessarily an atom... -> "oxidation is just the loss of electrons. "