oxidise
/'ɔksidaiz/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Verb (transitive):
- To cause a substance to combine with oxygen, often resulting in a chemical change such as rusting or tarnishing.
- To add oxygen to a chemical compound.
Verb (intransitive):
- To undergo a chemical reaction with oxygen; to become converted into an oxide, often visible as corrosion or rust.
Usage and Examples
Transitive Verb (to cause oxidation):
- Exposing iron to water and air will oxidise it, forming rust.
- In the lab, we used a catalyst to oxidise the alcohol into an acid.
Intransitive Verb (to undergo oxidation):
- If you leave that metal outside, it will oxidise quickly.
- The apple slice began to oxidise and turn brown after a few minutes.
Advanced Usage
In Chemistry: The term is used broadly for reactions involving the loss of electrons, even when oxygen is not directly involved (though this is more precisely called "electron loss" or "redox").
- In this reaction, the metal oxidises as it loses electrons to the surrounding solution.
In Biology/Biochemistry: Refers to metabolic processes.
- Cells oxidise glucose to produce energy during respiration.
Variants and Related Words
- Oxidize: The preferred spelling in American English. 'Oxidise' is the standard spelling in British English.
- Oxidation (n): The process or result of oxidising.
- The oxidation of copper creates a green patina.
- Oxidiser/Oxidizer (n): A substance that causes oxidation, especially one that supplies oxygen for combustion.
- Potassium nitrate is a common oxidiser in fireworks.
- Oxidised/Oxidized (adj): Describing something that has undergone oxidation.
- The oxidised surface of the statue had a beautiful green hue.
Synonyms
- Corrode: To wear away, especially by chemical action (a specific result of oxidation for metals).
- Rust: To undergo the specific oxidation of iron or steel.
- Tarnish: To lose lustre due to a surface layer of oxide or sulphide, especially on silver.
Antonyms
- Reduce: In chemistry, to cause a substance to gain electrons or lose oxygen (the opposite chemical process).
- Deoxidise: To remove oxygen from a compound.
Related Phrasal Verbs/Phrases
(Note: 'Oxidise' is a technical verb and does not commonly form phrasal verbs. The process is typically described with prepositions.) - Oxidise away: To gradually disappear or degrade through oxidation. - The ancient inscription had oxidised away over the centuries.
Verb
- enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide
- This metal oxidizes easily
- add oxygen to or combine with oxygen