Process of gaining electrons is known as ………… .

Options

A. oxidation
B. reduction
C. radiation
D. both oxidation and reduction

Answer

B

Explanation

The process of losing electrons is called oxidation and the process of gaining electrons is called reduction. Most of the time, oxidation occur in tandem with reduction since one atom loses electron to be gained by another. This is known as redox reaction.

In the above reaction, magnesium reduces the copper (II) ion by transferring electron to the ion and neutralizing its charge. Therefore, magnesium is a reducing agent. An other way of putting this is that the copper (II) ion is removing electrons from the magnesium to create a magnesium ion. The copper (II) ion is acting as an oxidizing agent.