Which of the following statements is true regarding oxidation and reduction reactions?

• A. Both oxidation and reduction involve the loss of electrons.
• B. Oxidation involves the gain of electrons, while reduction involves the loss of electrons.
• C. Oxidation involves the loss of electrons, while reduction involves the gain of electrons.
• D. Both oxidation and reduction involve the gain of electrons.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the definitions of oxidation and reduction in terms of electron transfer: Oxidation is the process where a species loses electrons, and reduction is the process where a species gains electrons.
2. Understand that oxidation and reduction always occur together in a redox reaction because electrons lost by one species must be gained by another.
3. Evaluate each statement based on these definitions: Statements claiming both oxidation and reduction involve loss or gain of electrons are incorrect because they contradict the complementary nature of redox processes.
4. Identify the correct statement as the one that says 'Oxidation involves the loss of electrons, while reduction involves the gain of electrons,' since this aligns with the fundamental concept of redox reactions.
5. Conclude that the correct understanding of oxidation and reduction is essential for analyzing chemical reactions involving electron transfer.