oxidation

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The chemical process of removing electrons from an element or compound (e.g. the oxidation of iron compounds from ferrous to ferric); frequently together with the removal of hydrogen ions (H⁺). The reverse process, the addition of electrons or hydrogen, is reduction.

In biological oxidation and reduction reactions, cytochromes act to transfer electrons, while coenzymes derived from the vitamins niacin and vitamin B₂ are intermediate hydrogen acceptors, transferring both electrons and H⁺ ions.

The absorption by a mineral of one or more oxygen ions. Oxidation is a major type of chemical weathering, particularly in rocks containing iron. Within soils, oxidation occurs when minerals take up some of the oxygen dissolved in the soil moisture.

Reaction of a chemical compound with oxygen, as in a paint film in which oil reacts with oxygen to form a hard dry film.

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A chemical reaction involving the addition of oxygen, the removal of hydrogen, or the removal of an electron from a substance.

A wine that's been exposed to air undergoes oxidation, which causes chemical changes and deterioration. An oxidized wine has a stale, dull, sherrylike smell and flavor; its color takes on a brownish cast. Although oxidation is an asset in wines like sherry and madeira it's undesirable in a table wine and can render it undrinkable.

IN BRIEF: The process of combing elements with oxygen.

Oxidation causes your car to rust.

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Any chemical reaction in which a material gives up electrons, as when the material combines with oxygen. Burning is an example of rapid oxidation; rusting is an example of slow oxidation. (See combustion and reduction.)

1. the action or process of reacting with oxygen, especially the addition of oxygen to a substance.
2. the loss or removal of hydrogen from a substance.
3. the loss or removal of one or more electrons from a molecular entity, with or without concomitant loss or removal of a proton or protons. In this sense, oxidation is the opposite of, and is always coupled to, reduction.
4. the increase to a more positive value of the oxidation number of an atom, whether the atom is uncharged or charged, and whether free or covalently bound.

—oxidative adj.

Previous:	oxidase test, oxidase, oxidant
Next:	oxidation level, oxidation number, oxidation potential

Pertaining to or emanating from oxidation.

• o. deamination — oxidative breakdown of amino acids; specialized enzyme systems carry out the process, e.g. d-amino oxidase.
• o. metabolism — enzymic pathways leading to the addition of oxygen or removal of hydrogen from intermediates in the pathway.
• o. phosphorylation — the mitochondrial process by which the free energy from the oxidation of intracellular substrates is made available in the form of ATP for cellular endergonic processes.

n

The combination of oxygen with other elements to form oxides. The process in which an element gains electrons.

For a list of words related to oxidative, see:

• Physiology - oxidative: (adj) using oxygen

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  See crossword solutions for the clue Oxidation.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - oxidering, iltning

Nederlands (Dutch)
oxidatie, roestvorming

Français (French)
n. - oxydation

Deutsch (German)
n. - Oxydation

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (χημ.) οξείδωση

Italiano (Italian)
ossidazione

Português (Portuguese)
n. - oxidação (f), oxigenação (f)

Русский (Russian)
окисление

Español (Spanish)
n. - oxidación

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - oxidering

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
氧化

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 氧化

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 산화작용

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 酸化

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) تأكسد‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮חמצון‬

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