The word "redox" means reduction-oxidation.

It refers to an electrochemical process that involves the

transfer of electrons to or from molecules or ions, changing its oxidation state. This reaction can occur
through the application of an external voltage or the release of chemical energy. Oxidation and
reduction describes the change of oxidation state that occurs in atoms, ions or molecules involved in
electrochemical reactions. In fact, the oxidation state is the charge the atom would have if all the
bonds in the atoms of the different elements were 100% ionic. An atom or ion that donates an
electron to another atom or ion sees its oxidation state increase, and the recipient of a negatively
charged electron sees its oxidation state decrease. For example, when atomic sodium reacts with
atomic chlorine, sodium gives up an electron and reaches an oxidation state of +1. Chlorine accepts
an electron and its oxidation state decreases to -1. The sign of the oxidation state (positive / negative)
actually corresponds to the value of the electronic charge of each ion. The attraction of sodium and
chlorine ions are different charges which is why they form ionic bonds. The loss of electrons from
atoms or molecules is called oxidation and the gain of electrons is called reduction. This can be easily
remembered using a mnemonic device. Two of the most popular are "OIL RIG" (Oxidation Is Loss,
Reduction Is Gain) and "LEO" the lion says "GER" (Lose Electrons: Oxidation, Gain Electrons:
Reduction). Oxidation and reduction always occur in a paired fashion, so one species is oxidized when
another is reduced. For cases where electrons are shared (covalent bonds) between atoms with a
large difference in electronegativity, the electron is assigned to the atom with a large
electronegativity to determine the oxidation state.

An atom or molecule that loses an electron is called a reducing agent or a reducing agent, and an
electron acceptor is called an oxidizing or oxidizing agent. Therefore, the oxidizing agent is always
reduced in the reaction; a reducing agent is always oxidized. Oxygen is the most common oxidizing
agent, but not the only one. Despite its name, oxidation reactions do not necessarily involve oxygen.
In fact, fire can be ignited by an oxidizer other than oxygen; The fluorine flame is usually
inextinguishable, because fluorine is a stronger oxidant (it has a weaker bond and higher
electronegativity, so it accepts electrons even better) than oxygen. For reactions involving oxygen,
oxygen gain involves the oxidation of the atom or molecule to which oxygen is added (and oxygen is
reduced). In organic compounds, such as butane or ethanol, the loss of hydrogen involves the
oxidation of the molecule that is lost (and hydrogen is reduced). This follows because hydrogen
donates its electrons in covalent bonds with nonmetals, but it withdraws electrons when it is lost. On
the other hand, the loss of oxygen or the gain of hydrogen indicates a decrease.