reduction-oxidation
|re-duc-tion-ox-i-da-tion|
🇺🇸
/rɪˈdʌkʃən ˌɑksɪˈdeɪʃən/
🇬🇧
/rɪˈdʌkʃən ˌɒksɪˈdeɪʃən/
electron transfer (gain vs loss)
Etymology
'reduction-oxidation' is a compound of 'reduction' and 'oxidation'. 'reduction' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'reducere', where 're-' meant 'back/again' and 'ducere' meant 'to lead'. 'oxidation' originates from French/Latin, specifically the French 'oxyder' (from Greek 'oxys') combined with the Latin suffix '-ation'.
'reduction' changed from Latin 'reducere' to Old French forms and then to Middle English 'reduc(i)on' / 'reduction', eventually becoming modern English 'reduction'. 'oxidation' developed from Greek 'oxys' (meaning 'sharp' or 'acid') to French 'oxyde'/'oxyder' and the Latinized noun form 'oxidatio', which evolved into modern English 'oxidation'.
Initially, 'reduction' literally meant 'a leading back' and 'oxidation' originally referred to combining with oxygen (forming oxides); over time the compound came to denote the paired electron-transfer processes in chemistry now called reduction-oxidation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chemical process in which electrons are transferred between species; it consists of reduction (gain of electrons or decrease in oxidation state) and oxidation (loss of electrons or increase in oxidation state). Often called a redox reaction.
Reduction-oxidation reactions are central to processes like cellular respiration and corrosion.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/17 10:19