Definition+1

have u ever wonder why the apple turns brown almost immediately when the skin has been peeled off? This is the phenomenon of oxidation.

Let's use an analogy to define the first and simplest definition of oxidation!


 * [[image:skinny.JPG width="320" height="160"]] || [[image:beefy.JPG width="256" height="166"]] ||
 * meet Mr Skinny || meet Beefy ||

he lost his oxygen atoms || Beefy gains the oxygen atoms from Skinny || So, what have happened to Skinny? what makes him lose his oxygen atoms? for Skinny, **losing his oxygen atoms** means Skinny has been **reduced**. for Beefy, **gaining oxygen atoms** means Beefy has been **oxidised**.
 * [[image:skinny1.JPG width="256" height="160"]] || [[image:beefy1.JPG width="320" height="200"]] ||
 * after Skinny meets Beefy,

It was Beefy who caused Skinny to lose his oxygen atoms, so Beefy is playing the role of the Reducing Agent, while Skinny is the Oxidising Agent.

Thus, Oxidation is the gain of oxygen atoms.

__Example 1__ Mg + CuO → MgO + Cu

Mg gains oxygen to form MgO. Thus, Mg is oxidised. CuO is the oxidising agent. Similarly, CuO loses oxygen to form Cu. Thus, CuO is reduced and Mg is the reducing agent.

Watch the following video. media type="youtube" key="e6Xxz-VBE6s" height="344" width="425"

Let's move on to Definition 2.