What is Oxidation?
A freshly-cut apple turns brown, a bicycle fender becomes rusty and a copper penny suddenly turns green. What do all of these events have in common? They are all examples of a process called oxidation. Oxidation is defined as the interaction between oxygen molecules and all the different substances they may contact, from metal to living tissue. Technically, however, with the discovery of electrons, oxidation came to be more precisely defined as the loss of at least one electron when two or more substances interact. Those substances may or may not include oxygen. (Incidentally, the opposite of oxidation is reduction — the addition of at least one electron when substances come into contact with each other.) Sometimes oxidation is not such a bad thing, as in the formation of super-durable anodized aluminum. Other times, oxidation can be destructive, such as the rusting of an automobile or the spoiling of fresh fruit. We often used the words oxidation and rust interchangeably, but not all
The term ‘oxidation’ derives from the ancient observation of rust (oxide) formation. Early chemists could determine an increase in the weight of a metal as it apparently captured something from the air and transformed into a completely different material The ‘something’ was eventually identified as oxygen, and the new materials that formed were called ‘oxides’. The chemical process came to be known as oxidation. The underlying transaction of oxidation was eventually identified as an alteration of the electronic structure of an element or compound. More accurately, this can be described as how strongly an atom ‘owns’ or controls the electrons around it. In an ion and ionic bonding, the atom controls its electrons completely, either by accepting them or by giving them up. In covalent bonding, an atom can be seen as sharing control of its electrons with another atom. In oxidation, an atom loses control over a certain number of electrons to a material called an oxidizing agent. The loss of
Oxidation is the interaction between oxygen molecules and the substances they may contact, from metal to living tissue. Oxidation produces chemical changes characterized by the loss of electrons. In ozone oxidation reactions, the unstable third oxygen atom is transferred, with a large release of energy, from ozone to the molecule being oxidized. The transfer of energy in oxidation causes the outer membranes of microorganisms to rupture. As ozone molecules enter lysed microorganisms, genetic material (DNA and RNA) is oxidized and destroyed. Organic molecules most often disintegrate as a result of oxidation, destroying their biological activity. Oxidation by ozone typically hydrolyzes inorganic molecules, causing them to become insoluble, and facilitating removal by filtration.
Oxidation is the damaging and drying out of your vehicles paint caused by atmospheric conditions. You probably have noticed it more on red cars. When the pigment in the paint dries out, it starts to fade or have a dull look. For the most part, oxidation can only take place when the surface of your cars finish has deteriorated from abuse or neglect to the point where the once impermeable surface has become permeable and then left unprotected. Deterioration is caused by, neglect, washing with detergent washes (washing up liquid), the leaching and drying-out effect due to repeated exposure to inclement weather, baking in hot sun, natural wear and tear, and through the natural process of breaking down. The best way to prevent oxidation is to always wash your vehicles at a professional car wash. Add a protective coating of wax or clear coat protectant to your finish a minimum of 3-4 times a year. The most important thing you can do to prevent oxidation besides washing, is to protect the pai
