List two things that can occur during a reduction reaction.
1. Gain of electrons
2. Decrease in oxidation state
During a reduction reaction, two things can occur:
1. Gain of electrons: Reduction involves the gain of electrons by a molecule, atom, or ion. During a reduction reaction, a species accepts one or more electrons, resulting in a decrease in its oxidation state. For example, when a metal ion gains electrons and gets reduced to its neutral metal form.
2. Decrease in oxidation state: A reduction reaction also involves a decrease in the oxidation state of a species. Oxidation state refers to the degree of oxidation of an atom in a compound, indicating the number of electrons that an atom has gained or lost. As the oxidation state decreases during reduction, the species becomes more negatively charged or less positively charged.