redox etymology

Etymology

The term "redox" is a portmanteau of the words "reduction" and "oxidation".

• Reduction comes from the Latin word "reducere", meaning "to bring back" or "to restore". In chemistry, reduction refers to the process of gaining electrons.
• Oxidation comes from the Latin word "oxydare", meaning "to sharpen" or "to produce an acid". In chemistry, oxidation refers to the process of losing electrons.

Meaning and Origin

The term "redox" was coined by the American chemist Wendell Latimer in 1928. He used it to describe reactions involving the transfer of electrons between two substances. In a redox reaction, one substance is reduced and the other is oxidized.

Redox reactions are essential for many biological processes, such as cellular respiration and photosynthesis. They are also used in a variety of industrial processes, such as the production of steel and chlorine.

Examples of Redox Reactions

• Rusting of iron: Iron is oxidized by oxygen to form iron oxide (rust).
• Combustion of gasoline: Gasoline is oxidized by oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and water.
• Photosynthesis: Plants use sunlight to reduce carbon dioxide into glucose.
• Cellular respiration: Cells use oxygen to oxidize glucose for energy.

redox relate terms

• oxidation

  Etymology Latin oxidatio French oxydation Meaning Oxidation refers to the chemica

• oxide

  Etymology The word oxide is derived from the Greek word oxys which means sharp or

• reduction

  Etymology Reduction is derived from the Latin verb reducere which means to lead ba

• reduce

  Etymology Latin reducere from re back ducere to lead Middle French reduir

• reaction

  Etymology The word reaction is derived from the Latin word reactionem which means t

• creation

  Etymology The word creation derives from the Latin term creatio which means the a

• curious

  Curious Etymology Middle English curious from Old French curious from Latin cur

• scourge

  Etymology and Origin The word scourge comes from the Old French word escorgier mean

• urban

  Etymology Urban Related to a city or urban area derived from the Latin word urbs me

• tank

  Etymology and Meaning The word tank originates from the French word tanque which mea

• alibi

  Etymology Middle English alibi from Latin Latin alibi elsewhere Meaning A de

• penny

  Etymology The word penny originates from the Old English word penig which is deriv

• mustache

  Etymology The word mustache originates from the Middle French word moustache which

• tribe

  Etymology The word tribe comes from the Latin word tribus which referred to one of