Skip to content
CHEM 121 Studioby Learn4Less · UBC CHEM 121

CHEM 121 glossary

Redox reaction

A reaction in which electrons move from one species to another, so some oxidation states rise (oxidation) and others fall (reduction). The total increase equals the total decrease.

Example

Zn+CuX2+→ZnX2++Cu\ce{Zn + Cu^2+ -> Zn^2+ + Cu}: Zn rises from 0 to +2+2 and Cu falls from +2+2 to 0, so two electrons pass from Zn to Cu.

See alsoOxidationReductionOxidation state