Question

What happens during redox reactions?

Answer 1

Stuff....

Explanation:

And by stuff we mean `"FORMAL ELECTRON TRANSFER...."`

We conceive of `"oxidation"` as the formal loss of electrons...and typically, metals, electron-rich substances, are oxidized...

`Mg(s) rarr Mg^(2+) + 2e^(-)` `(i)`

Electrons are included as particles of convenience.

And `"reduction"` is the FORMAL gain of electrons, and typically, non-metals, elements from the right hand side of the Periodic Table as we face it, with HIGH nuclear charge, are reduced...

`1/2O_2+2e^(-) rarr O^(2-)` `(ii)`

We add the two equations together in such a way that the electrons, as formal particles, are ELIMINATED...`(i)+(ii)` gives...

`Mg(s) +1/2O_2 rarr MgO(s)`

And see this old answer and links...