Question

select the correct answer.
what does an atom gain or lose in an oxidation-reduction reaction?
a. protons
b. oxygen
c. neutrons
d. electrons

Explanation:

In an oxidation - reduction (redox) reaction, oxidation is defined as the loss of electrons and reduction is defined as the gain of electrons. Protons are in the nucleus and do not participate in the transfer during redox reactions (so option A is wrong). The old - fashioned definition of oxidation involved oxygen, but the modern definition is based on electron transfer, and redox reactions can occur without oxygen (so option B is wrong). Neutrons are also in the nucleus and do not take part in the electron - transfer process of redox reactions (so option C is wrong). So atoms gain or lose electrons in redox reactions.

Answer:

D. electrons