Oxidation-reduction: Difference between revisions

From Citizendium
Jump to navigation Jump to search
imported>Anthony.Sebastian
mNo edit summary
imported>Anthony.Sebastian
(add ref to lede 1st sentence)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{subpages}}
{{subpages}}
Originally chemists viewed '''oxidation''' as a class of chemical reactions in which a chemical species (e.g., a chemical element) reacts with oxygen to form an oxygen-containing product referred to as an 'oxide'. In modern terminology, chemists would describe that as the chemical species reacting with an oxygen molecule (O<sub>2</sub>) such that it combines with an atom of oxygen (O) to form an oxygen-containing product, as when hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) reacts with O<sub>2</sub> to form the oxygen-containing product, H<sub>2</sub>O, namely water:
Originally chemists viewed '''oxidation''' as a class of chemical reactions in which a chemical species (e.g., a chemical element, compound) reacts with oxygen to form an oxygen-containing product referred to as an 'oxide'.<ref name=lavoisier1789>Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier. (1789) Traité élémentaire de chimie: présenté dans un ordre nouveau et d'après les découvertes modernes . Chez Cuchet. | [http://books.google.com/books?id=hZch3yOrayUC&vq=oxygen&dq=inauthor:Lavoisier&lr=&as_drrb_is=q&as_minm_is=0&as_miny_is=&as_maxm_is=0&as_maxy_is=&num=100&as_brr=3&source=gbs_navlinks_s Google Books Full-View.]</ref> In modern terminology, chemists would describe that as the chemical species reacting with an oxygen molecule (O<sub>2</sub>) such that it combines with an atom of oxygen (O) to form an oxygen-containing product, as when hydrogen (H<sub>2</sub>) reacts with O<sub>2</sub> to form the oxygen-containing product, H<sub>2</sub>O, namely water:


::2H<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> → 2H<sub>2</sub>O
::2H<sub>2</sub> + O<sub>2</sub> → 2H<sub>2</sub>O
Line 6: Line 6:
In that reaction, each molecular pair of hydrogen atoms has been 'oxidized' by gaining an oxygen atom.  
In that reaction, each molecular pair of hydrogen atoms has been 'oxidized' by gaining an oxygen atom.  


The 'Father of Chemistry', [[Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier]] (1743-1794), in his ''Elements of Chemistry'' (originally published in French in 1789), writes of oxidation in relation to the products formed when metals (e.g., iron) are exposed to air and heat:
The 'Father of Chemistry', [[Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier]] (1743-1794), in his ''Elements of Chemistry'' (originally published in French in 1789), writes of oxidation in relation to the products formed when metals (e.g., mercury, iron) are exposed to air and a certain amount of heat:


<blockquote>
<blockquote>

Revision as of 22:10, 17 February 2010

This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

Originally chemists viewed oxidation as a class of chemical reactions in which a chemical species (e.g., a chemical element, compound) reacts with oxygen to form an oxygen-containing product referred to as an 'oxide'.[1] In modern terminology, chemists would describe that as the chemical species reacting with an oxygen molecule (O2) such that it combines with an atom of oxygen (O) to form an oxygen-containing product, as when hydrogen (H2) reacts with O2 to form the oxygen-containing product, H2O, namely water:

2H2 + O2 → 2H2O

In that reaction, each molecular pair of hydrogen atoms has been 'oxidized' by gaining an oxygen atom.

The 'Father of Chemistry', Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1743-1794), in his Elements of Chemistry (originally published in French in 1789), writes of oxidation in relation to the products formed when metals (e.g., mercury, iron) are exposed to air and a certain amount of heat:

The term oxidation, or calcination, is chiefly used to signify the process by which metals exposed to a certain degree of heat are converted to oxides, by absorbing oxygen from the air.[2]

Lavoisier's work revealed the common link between the air-requiring processes of burning (combustion), rusting and other such so-called calcinations of metals, and breathing (respiration) by animals, namely the requirement for the oxygen component of air and the chemical reaction of oxidation.

References

  1. Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier. (1789) Traité élémentaire de chimie: présenté dans un ordre nouveau et d'après les découvertes modernes . Chez Cuchet. | Google Books Full-View.
  2. Antoine-Laurent Lavoisier (1799). Elements of Chemistry: In a new systematic order, containing all the modern discoveries, illustrated with thirteen copperplates, 4th Edition, translated by Robert Kerr.  Google Books free full-text.