Question

The process of addition of hydrogen to a substance is ___________ (oxidation/reduction).

Answer 1

• The process of addition of hydrogen or removal of oxygen is known as reduction.
• Example for reduction:

$\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}}{\mathrm{C}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Hydrogen}}{2{\mathrm{H}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Methane}}{{\mathrm{CH}}_4\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$

• Oxidation is the process of the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen.
• Example for oxidation:

$\underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}}{2\mathrm{Mg}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Oxygen}}{{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}\to \underset{\mathrm{Magnesium}\mathrm{oxide}}{2\mathrm{MgO}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}$

• Thus the process of addition of hydrogen to a substance is oxidation.