Oxidization 📢 🆓

"Oxidative stress" occurs when unstable molecules called free radicals damage cells. This is why diets rich in antioxidants —substances that inhibit oxidation—are considered healthy.

The substance that loses electrons. It causes the other substance to be reduced (by "donating" electrons to it). Why It Matters Understanding oxidation is critical for several fields:

When iron is exposed to moisture and oxygen, it undergoes oxidation to form iron oxide, or rust. The iron atoms lose electrons to oxygen atoms. oxidization

Oxidation is everywhere, from the engine in your car to the cells in your body. Here are a few ways it manifests:

The substance that gains electrons. It causes the other substance to be oxidized (by "stealing" its electrons). It causes the other substance to be reduced

At the subatomic level, oxidation is about the movement of charge. When a substance undergoes oxidation, it gives up negative charge (electrons). Because electrons are lost, the overall charge of the atom or molecule becomes more positive.

This is a biological "slow burn." Your body oxidizes glucose (sugar) to produce ATP, the primary energy currency of life. Oxidation is everywhere, from the engine in your

Batteries work by physically separating the oxidation and reduction halves of a reaction, forcing the transferred electrons to flow through a wire as electricity.