Question

What is reduction? Give an example.

Answer 1

Reduction

1. Reduction means to reduce or lose oxygen.
2. In a chemical reaction if a molecule losses oxygen or gain one or more electron it is referred to as reduction.
3. The atom that gained electrons is said to be reduced.
4. The ion or molecule that donates an electron is called a reducing agent.

Example of Reduction :

1. The formation of iron from iron oxide is one example of a reduction reaction.
2. ${\mathrm{Fe}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3\mathrm{CO}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\to 2\mathrm{Fe}\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+3{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$
3. In the above chemical reaction, iron oxide is reduced to iron.
4. In this reaction, Carbon monoxide is acting as a reducing agent.