ICSE Class 10 Answered

A chemical reaction in which loss of electrons and gain of electrons occur simultaneously is called a redox reaction.  

Example: 

  

 

In this reaction, hydrogen acts as a reducing agent and reduces copper oxide to copper. This is a reduction reaction. 

Reduction: Cu⁺² + 2e⁻→ Cu 

Simultaneously, copper oxide acts as an oxidising agent and oxidises hydrogen to water. This is an oxidation reaction. 

Oxidation: 2H - 2e⁻ → 2H⁺

 

There is one more way a reaction called redox is as follows:

Redox reactions: Redox reactions are those reactions in which both oxidation and reduction occur.

Oxidation - involves the loss of  hydrogen OR gain of oxygen 

Reduction - involves the gain of hydrogen OR loss of oxygen 

 

ZnO + C → Zn +CO

 

In this reaction, zinc oxide is reduced to zinc and Carbon is oxidized to carbon monoxide