electromonkey Posted June 10, 2003 Report Share Posted June 10, 2003 Why does oxidation release energy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tormod Posted June 10, 2003 Report Share Posted June 10, 2003 Hi there, and welcome to our forums! Oxidation is a process which releases electrons from the molecules (as compared to reduction, which gathers up electrons), thus releasing energy. These are both part of normal body metabolism (in which we convert foo to energy). Both occur at the same time, since there must be a molecule to gather up the electrons which are released from the first (and vice versa). More about that here. It is also an important part of photosynthesis, basically because it is the same thing - the oxidation of oxygen and the reduction of carbon. More about that here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deamonstar Posted September 16, 2003 Report Share Posted September 16, 2003 hello, electromonkey. if I may assume... you mean oxidation as in 'rust'? rusting (oxidation of iron) is a chemical reation. oxygen molecules bind to iron molecules (both of which are elements and therefore single atoms (though they may be in abundance)). in the process, electrons are freed from either of the molecules. it is this release of electrons that we feel or measure as heat... and heat is a form of energy (infrared radiation (I believe)). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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