Oxidation-Reduction Reactions - Key terms
ANION:
An ion with a negative charge; pronounced "AN-ie-un."
BINARY COMPOUND:
A compound involving two elements.
CHEMICAL REACTION:
A process whereby the chemical properties of a substance are changed by a rearrangement of the atoms in the substance.
CHEMICAL SPECIES:
A generic term used for any substance studied in chemistry—whether it be an element, compound, mixture, atom, molecule, ion, and so forth.
COVALENT BONDING:
A type of chemical bonding in which two atoms share valence electrons.
ELECTROCHEMISTRY:
The study of the relationship between chemical and electrical energy.
ELECTROLYSIS:
The use of an electric current to produce a chemical change.
ELECTRONEGATIVITY:
The relative ability of an atom to attract valence electrons.
CATION:
An ion with a positive charge; pronounced "KAT-ie-un."
ION:
An atom or group of atoms that has acquired an electric charge due to the loss or gain of electrons.
OXIDATION:
A chemical reaction in which a substance loses electrons. It is always accompanied by reduction; hence the term oxidation-reduction reaction.
OXIDATION NUMBER:
A number as signed to each atom in an oxidation-reduction reaction as a means of keeping track of the electrons involved. Another term for oxidation number is "oxidation state."
OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTION:
A chemical reaction involving the transfer of electrons.
REDOX REACTION:
Another name for an oxidation-reduction reaction.
REDUCTION:
A chemical reaction in which a substance gains electrons. It is always accompanied by oxidation; hence the term oxidation-reduction reaction.
VALENCE ELECTRONS:
Electrons that occupy the highest energy levels in anatom. These are the only electrons involved in chemical bonding.