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Why is losing electrons called oxidation?

Answer 1

Connor Abernathy

An increase in oxygen atoms was the definition of oxidation in the early days of chemistry.

For instance, in the response

#"2Mg" + "O"_2 → "2MgO"#,

the #"Mg"# was said to be oxidized because it gained an oxygen atom.

Eventually, chemists realized that the reaction involved a transfer of electrons from #"Mg"# to #"O"#.

#"Mg"→ "Mg"^(2+) + 2"e"^-# #"O" + "2e"^(-) → "O"^(2-)#

#"Mg"^(2+) + "O"^(2-) → "MgO"#

Since #"Mg"# lost electrons in the process, chemists added a second definition:

#color(red)("L")#oss of #color(red)("E")#lectrons is #color(red)("O")#xidation.

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Answer 2

Penelope Adams

Losing electrons is called oxidation because it involves the loss of negatively charged electrons from an atom or molecule. This loss of electrons results in an increase in the oxidation state of the atom or molecule, hence the term "oxidation."

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.