Question

Define the term.

Reduction reaction

Answer 1

Reduction reaction- A reduction reaction is a type of reaction in which one substance is being reduced.

Reduction is defined as-

• Addition of hydrogen to a substance, or
• Removal of oxygen from a substance, or
• Gain of electrons
• Reduction involves a half-reaction.

Example-

• When copper oxide is heated with hydrogen, copper metal is formed along with the formation of water.
  In this reduction reaction, copper oxide loses oxygen atoms to form copper.
• $\underset{\mathrm{Copper}\mathrm{oxide}}{\mathrm{CuO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\stackrel{∆}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Copper}}{\mathrm{Cu}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)}$
• Copper ion gains electrons to form copper.
• ${\mathrm{Cu}}^{+2}+2{\mathrm{e}}^{-}\to \mathrm{Cu}$