Redox reactions are the type of reaction which involves process like oxidation and reduction. In other words, we can say that a chemical reaction in which the reactants undergo a change in their oxidation states. Oxidation is a concept of organic chemistry in which resultant compound gains oxygen molecule.
The reduction is a process in which the resultant of a chemical reaction loses oxygen molecule.
Reduction-oxidation reaction is referred to as Redox reaction. In a redox reaction, both oxidation and reduction reactions always take place together. In a chemical reaction, the substance which gets reduced is known as the oxidizing agent, while a substance that gets oxidized is known as the reducing agent.
A redox reaction is a chemical reaction in which electrons are transferred between 2 reactants involved in the reaction. This transfer of electrons can be recognized by observing the changes in the oxidation states of the reactants involved in a chemical reaction.
Generalized formate of the Redox reaction is as shown in the figure below.
Common Redox Reactions In Everyday Life
There are many redox reactions that can be witnessed in our daily routine life. Some of the redox reaction takes place instantly and some reactions take more time. Redox reaction is classified into many types based on the time it takes place. They are classified into corrosion, decay, and combustion.
Combustion is a redox reaction which takes place immediately by producing a considerable amount of heat and light. Combustion more over means burning. Burning of a material is an example of a redox reaction.
Example: The equations shown below briefs the process when burning of coal and gasoline
C + O 2 → CO 2
2 C 8 H 18 + 25 O 2 → 16 CO 2 + 18 H 2 O
Animals and plants are made up of organic complex compounds like hydrogen, carbon, and oxygen. Letters like x, y, and z were used to represent the number of atoms present in compounds like carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen.
Decay takes place when a plant or animal dies, the organic compounds present in plant or animal begin to react with oxygen slowly. It is another example of a common redox reaction. The equation below shows the process in which decay takes place:
C x H y O z + O 2 → CO 2 + H 2 O
Rust is formed when iron reacts with oxygen to form oxides. Rust is the name given to the oxide of iron and for the oxides of other metals too. Corrosion is a process in which rusting takes place and is similar to process like combustion. The equation below shows the rusting of iron.
4 Fe + 3 O 2 → 2 Fe 2 O 3
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