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REDOX REACTIONS.

The formal name for a redox reaction is "oxidation reduction reaction," and you can see that "redox" is just shorthand for the words reduction and oxidation. Thus, in a redox reaction, two things happen. Oxidation and reduction. Oxidation is loss of electrons and on the other hand, Reduction is gain of electrons. Most reactions are redox reactions because atoms need to gain or lose electrons in order to be stable. All this takes place during the reaction. Redox reactions are used and occur everyday in our lives. They also happen spontaneously in nature, which brings about a few problems.

One of the ways in which redox reactions affect our society is through rusting.

During the rusting of iron, oxygen from the air reacts with it to form iron oxide and, at the same time, this iron oxide combines with water to form hydrated iron oxide. In the experiment the use of oxygen in this process can be seen in that, in a sealed container, the level of oxygen reduces with time. It begins with the transfer of electrons from iron to oxygen. The rate of corrosion is affected by water and accelerated by electrolytes, as illustrated by the effects of road salt (calcium chloride) on the corrosion of automobiles. The key reaction is the reduction of oxygen:

O2 + 4 e- + 2 H2O → 4 OH
There is a strong presence of acid due to the hydroxide ions formed. The corrosion of most metals by oxygen is actually is accelerated by the low pH.