oxidations
Electron-losing chemical changes
Oxidations is the plural of oxidation, a chemical reaction in which a substance loses electrons, typically by combining with oxygen.
Rust is oxidation of iron; burning is rapid oxidation.
The term extends to biological processes: cellular oxidations convert nutrients to energy.
In chemistry, oxidation always pairs with reduction—one substance oxidizes while another reduces.
Electron transfer chemistry
- corrosionChemical wearing away
- rustingMetal oxidation process
- reductionMaking something smaller
- valenceCombining power measure
reaction · combustion · electrochemistry · free radicals · peroxidation · catalyst · half-reaction · anode
Chemical color removal
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
- smeltingExtracting metal from ore
- steel productionManufacturing iron-carbon alloy
- petrochemicalProduct from crude processing
vulcanization · wastewater treatment · combustion · catalytic converter · chemical manufacturing · patination · anodizing · etching
Cell-level fuel burning
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- ATPCell's energy molecule
- aerobicRequiring free oxygen
antioxidants · aging · enzymatic · cytochrome · NADH · DNA damage · superoxide · catalase
Food darkening when cooked
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
- rancidityDecomposition of fats
- discolorationAltered surface pigmentation
- stalingGradual freshness loss
redox
Electron transfer chemistry
valence · reaction · combustion · electrochemistry · free radicals · peroxidation · catalyst · half-reaction · anode
bleaching
Chemical color removal
- refiningRemoving unwanted elements
- smeltingExtracting metal from ore
- steel productionManufacturing iron-carbon alloy
petrochemical · vulcanization · wastewater treatment · combustion · catalytic converter · chemical manufacturing · patination · anodizing · etching · fuel cells
cellular respiration
Cell-level fuel burning
- metabolismCellular nutrient conversion
- mitochondriaCell's energy-producing organelles
- ATPCell's energy molecule
aerobic · antioxidants · aging · enzymatic · cytochrome · NADH · DNA damage · superoxide · catalase · glutathione
browning
Food darkening when cooked
- caramelizationSugar's heat transformation
- rancidityDecomposition of fats
- discolorationAltered surface pigmentation
- oxidation zoneNear-surface mineral alteration region
- oxidation stateAtom's electron loss measure
- oxidation numbersAssigned atomic charges