Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Oxidize
Ox′i-dize
(ŏks′ĭ-dīz)
, Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Oxidized
(ŏks′ĭ-dīzd)
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Oxidizing
.] (Chem.)
To combine with oxygen, or subject to the action of oxygen, or of an oxidizing agent.
Specifically:
(a)
To combine with oxygen or with more oxygen; to add oxygen to;
as, to
. oxidize
nitrous acid so as to form nitric acid(b)
To remove hydrogen from (anything), as by the action of oxygen;
as, to
. oxidize
alcohol so as to form aldehyde(c)
To subject to the action of oxygen or of an oxidizing agent, so as to bring to a higher grade, as an -ous compound to an -ic compound;
as, to
. oxidize
mercurous chloride to mercuric chloride☞ In certain cases to oxidize is identical with to acidify; for, in nearly all cases, the more oxygen a substance contains the more nearly does it approximate to acid qualities; thus, by oxidation many elements, as sulphur, nitrogen, carbon, chromium, manganese, etc., pass into compounds which are acid anhydrides, and thus practically in the acid state.
Definition 2024
oxidize
oxidize
English
Alternative forms
- oxidise (UK)
Verb
oxidize (third-person singular simple present oxidizes, present participle oxidizing, simple past and past participle oxidized)
- (chemistry, transitive) To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.
- 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
- 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.
-
- (chemistry) To increase the valence (or the positive charge) of an element by removing electrons.
- To coat something with an oxide.
- (intransitive) To become oxidized.
Translations
to combine with oxygen
to increase the valence
to become oxidized