When molecular oxygen (O2) is converted to water (H2O). Is O2 being oxidized or reduced.
The element oxygen gets hydrogen added to it
Since reduction is defined as the addition of hydrogen or the loss of oxygen (in this case the addition of hydrogen), O2 is being reduced.
I agree but I don't like to use the definition with hydrogen because redox can take plce without hydrogen being involved;. I prefer to use the definition of
Oxidation is the loss of electrons.
Reduction is the gain of electrons.
In O2 ==H2O, O2 has an oxidation state of zero and O in H2O has an oxidation state of 2-. To go from 0 to 2- is the gain of electrons; therefore, that is reduction.
In order to determine whether molecular oxygen (O2) is being oxidized or reduced when it is converted to water (H2O), we need to understand the concept of oxidation and reduction in the context of chemical reactions.
Oxidation and reduction are two complementary processes that occur simultaneously in a chemical reaction. Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons, while reduction refers to the gain of electrons.
To determine whether O2 is being oxidized or reduced in the conversion to H2O, we need to examine the change in the oxidation numbers of the atoms involved.
In the case of O2 being converted to H2O, oxygen undergoes a reduction. The oxidation number of oxygen in O2 is 0, while in H2O, it is -2. Since the oxidation number of oxygen decreases from 0 to -2, oxygen is gaining electrons and being reduced. Therefore, O2 is being reduced in the conversion to H2O.
To summarize, when molecular oxygen (O2) is converted to water (H2O), O2 is being reduced.