Question

Identify the following reaction as oxidation or reduction.

(i). $\underset{Oxygen}{O}+2e^{-}\to \underset{Oxygenion}{O^{2-}}$

Answer 1

1. Reduction is the chemical process that involves the acceptance of electrons and the one which involves the loss of electrons is Oxidation.
2. The substance which undergoes reduction or gets reduced will get a negative charge because of the addition of extra electrons to it.
3. The reaction here involves the addition of extra 2 electrons to the Oxygen atom and thereby forming an Oxygen ion with a negative charge. So this reaction is a reduction process.
4. The reaction is,

$\underset{Oxygen}{O}+2e^{-}\to \underset{Oxygenion}{O^{2-}}$

Since the reaction involves the addition of electrons this is a reduction process.