Chemical reaction that occurs when a substance comes into contact with oxygen or

any other oxidizing substance.

It is called a reduction-oxidation, oxide-reduction reaction, or simply as a redox

reaction, any chemical reaction in which one or more electrons are transferred
between the reactants, causing a change in their oxidation states.

The oxidizing agent is that chemical element that tends to capture those electrons,
leaving it with a lower oxidation state than it had, that is, being reduced.

When a reducing chemical element gives up electrons to the medium, it becomes an

oxidized element.

Oxidation is a chemical reaction where an element loses electrons, and therefore

increases its oxidation state.3

It should be taken into account that actually an oxidation or a reduction is a

process by which the oxidation state of a compound changes. This change does not
necessarily mean an ion exchange. It implies that all compounds formed through a
redox process are ionic, since it is in these compounds where an ionic bond does
occur, a product of electron transfer.

For example, in the reaction of hydrogen chloride formation from dihydrogen and
dichloro gases, a redox process occurs and yet a covalent compound is formed.

These two reactions always go together; that is, when a substance oxidizes, it is
always by the action of another that it is reduced. One gives up electrons and the
other accepts. For this reason, the general term redox reactions is preferred.

Life itself is a redox phenomenon. Oxygen is the best oxidant that exists because
the molecule is not very reactive (due to its double bond), and yet it is very
electronegative, almost as much as fluorine.

By Paula Álvarez Ramos. :)