How do the concepts of oxidation and reduction apply to everyday reactions?

Oxidation and reduction reactions, often called redox reactions, are involved in many everyday processes like combustion, respiration, and rusting.

Oxidation and reduction reactions are chemical processes that involve the transfer of electrons between substances. In simple terms, oxidation is the loss of electrons and reduction is the gain of electrons. These reactions are always paired, meaning if one substance is oxidised, another is reduced at the same time. This is why they are often referred to as 'redox' reactions, a combination of 'reduction' and 'oxidation'.

One common example of a redox reaction is the process of combustion, which is essentially rapid oxidation. When you light a candle or a piece of wood, the substance being burned is being oxidised, meaning it is losing electrons. The oxygen in the air is being reduced, as it gains the electrons lost by the substance being burned. This reaction releases energy in the form of heat and light, which is why we see a flame.

Another everyday example is the process of respiration in our bodies. This is a complex series of redox reactions where glucose is oxidised to produce carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy that our bodies use to function. At the same time, the oxygen we breathe in is reduced to water.

Rusting is another redox reaction that we see in everyday life. When iron is exposed to moist air, it reacts with oxygen to form iron(III) oxide, commonly known as rust. In this process, the iron is oxidised as it loses electrons to the oxygen, which is reduced.

In summary, oxidation and reduction reactions are fundamental to many processes that we see and experience every day. From the burning of a candle to the rusting of iron, these reactions are constantly occurring around and within us.