Read the given passage and answer the questions.
In the following chemical reaction "zinc oxide reacts with carbon to produce zinc metal and carbon monoxide."
`ZnO +C to Zn + CO`
The reduction reaction involves:

Options

A. gain of electrons
B. loss of electrons
C. increase in oxidation state
D. addition of oxygen

Explanation

To determine what the reduction reaction involves in the given chemical reaction \( \text{ZnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Zn} + \text{CO} \), we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the Reactants and Products
The reactants in the reaction are zinc oxide (ZnO) and carbon (C), and the products are zinc metal (Zn) and carbon monoxide (CO).

**Hint:** Look for what is being transformed in the reaction.

### Step 2: Understand Reduction and Oxidation
Reduction is defined as the process where a substance gains electrons or loses oxygen. Oxidation is the opposite, where a substance loses electrons or gains oxygen.

**Hint:** Remember the mnemonic "LEO says GER" (Lose Electrons = Oxidation, Gain Electrons = Reduction).

### Step 3: Analyze the Change in Oxidation States
- In zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc has an oxidation state of +2.
- In zinc metal (Zn), the oxidation state is 0.

The change from +2 to 0 indicates that zinc is gaining electrons.

**Hint:** Check the oxidation states of the elements before and after the reaction.

### Step 4: Determine the Role of Carbon
In this reaction, carbon is being oxidized to form carbon monoxide (CO). Here, carbon goes from an oxidation state of 0 in elemental carbon to +2 in carbon monoxide.

**Hint:** Identify which reactant is losing electrons and which is gaining.

### Step 5: Conclude the Reduction Process
Since zinc is going from an oxidation state of +2 to 0, it is gaining electrons, which defines the reduction process. Therefore, the reduction reaction involves the gain of electrons.

**Hint:** Focus on the definition of reduction as it relates to electron transfer.

### Final Answer
The reduction reaction involves the **gain of electrons**.