Oxidize
To oxidize an element or a compound is to increase its oxidation number.
Examples:
- sodium metal, oxidation number 0, is oxidized to sodium cation, oxidation number +1
- chloride anion, oxidation number -1, is oxidized to dichlorine gas, oxidation number 0
See redox for discussion.
 | This chemistry-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |