Reduction involves :
Addition of Hydrogen
Addition of any electropositive element
Removal of oxygen
Removal of any electronegative element
Reduction is the exact opposite of oxidation.
Reduction is the process of addition of hydrogen or any electropostive element or group OR removal of oxygen or any eletronegative element or group. For example:
a. H2(g) + Cl2(g) [R]⟶ 2HCl(g) (Addition of hydrogen)
b. 2HgCl2(aq) + SnCl2(aq) [R]⟶ Hg2Cl2(s)+SnCl4(aq) (Addition of a electropostive element)
c. ZnO(s)+C(s)[R]⟶Zn(s)+CO(g) (Removal of oxygen)
d.2FeCl3(aq)+H2S(g)[R]⟶FeCl2(aq)+2HCl(aq)+S(s) (Removal of eletronegative element)