reduction and oxidation?

Question

compare and contrast them?

Answer 1

Oxidation is the loss of electrons; reduction is the gain of electrons.

Oxidation is the increase in oxidation number; reduction is the decrease in oxidation number. Keep in mind that going from -2 to 0 is an increase, and from 0 to -2 a decrease.

Electrons are real. You can get an electric current from oxidation-reduction reactions. Oxidation numbers are meaningless. They are an arbitrary system of bookkeeping that makes balancing oxidation-reduction equations easier.