ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Oxidize

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈɒksɪdaɪz/ · Part of speech verb

Quick meaning: Oxidize is a verb meaning (chemistry, transitive) To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.

Meaning

(chemistry, transitive) To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.

More Meanings

  1. (chemistry) To increase the valence (or the positive charge) of an element by removing electrons.
  2. To coat something with an oxide.
  3. (intransitive) To become oxidized.

Example Sentences

Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.

Word Forms

Synonyms for oxidize

Depending on context, synonyms include oxidise.

Antonyms for oxidize

Common opposites include reduce, deoxidize, deoxidise.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include oxidise, oxidative, oxydize, oxidate, protoxidize, burn.

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Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.