Redox ( RED -oks, REE -doks, reduction–oxidation or
oxidation–reduction ) is a type of chemical reaction in which the
oxidation states of a substrate change. Oxidation is the loss of electrons or
an increase in the oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons
or a decrease in the oxidation state.
There are two classes of redox reactions:
- Electron-transfer – Only one (usually) electron flows from the atom being oxidized to the atom that is reduced. This type of redox reaction is often discussed in terms of redox couples and electrode potentials.
- Atom transfer – An atom transfers from one substrate to another.