The process that does not involve oxidationis
The process that does not involve oxidation is called reduction. In chemistry, oxidation and reduction (redox) are a pair of coupled reactions that involve the transfer of electrons. In an oxidation reaction, a substance loses electrons, while in a reduction reaction, a substance gains electrons.
To understand the process of reduction better, it is essential to review oxidation. Oxidation occurs when a substance loses electrons, becomes more positive in charge, or gains oxygen. On the other hand, reduction occurs when a substance gains electrons, becomes more negative in charge, or loses oxygen.
Now, to identify a process that involves reduction without oxidation, you can consider various examples. One common example is the hydrogenation of an unsaturated organic compound, such as hydrogenation of alkenes or the reduction of ketones to alcohols. In these processes, hydrogen gas is added to the compound, resulting in the addition of hydrogen atoms (each carrying an electron) to break the double bond or reduce the carbonyl group without any oxygen involved. This reduction reaction does not involve any oxidation.
Another example is the reduction of metal ions to metal atoms. For instance, the reduction of copper(II) ions (Cu2+) to copper metal (Cu) can be achieved by adding a reducing agent such as zinc metal (Zn). In this process, the zinc metal loses electrons (undergoes oxidation) to form zinc ions (Zn2+), while copper(II) ions gain those electrons (undergo reduction) to form copper metal.
In summary, reduction is the process that does not involve oxidation. It occurs when a substance gains electrons, becomes more negative in charge, or loses oxygen. Examples include hydrogenation of organic compounds and reduction of metal ions.