reduction

 

✅ What is Reduction?

(Class 10 Science – Chapter: Chemical Reactions and Equations)

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📘 Definition (CBSE Standard):

Reduction is a chemical process in which a substance:

• Loses oxygen, or

• Gains hydrogen

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🔁 Reduction Can Be Understood As:

Type of Change	Description	Example
Loss of Oxygen	Substance gives up oxygen	$\text{CuO} + \text{H}_2 \rightarrow \text{Cu} + \text{H}_2\text{O}$
Gain of Hydrogen	Substance gains hydrogen atoms	$\text{Cl}_2 + \text{H}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{HCl}$

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🧪 Example from NCERT (Activity 1.11):

$$\text{CuO} + \text{H}_2 \xrightarrow{\text{Heat}} \text{Cu} + \text{H}_2\text{O}$$

• Copper oxide (CuO) loses oxygen to become copper (Cu)
  ✅ So, CuO is reduced.

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📌 Real-Life Examples of Reduction:

• Extraction of metals:
  Metal oxides are reduced to pure metals during extraction.
  Example:

  $$\text{ZnO} + \text{C} \rightarrow \text{Zn} + \text{CO}$$

• In photosynthesis:
  Carbon dioxide is reduced to glucose using hydrogen from water.

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🧠 CBSE Exam Tip:

Q: What is reduction? Give one example.
✅ Answer:
Reduction is the process in which a substance loses oxygen or gains hydrogen.
Example:

$$\text{CuO} + \text{H}_2 \rightarrow \text{Cu} + \text{H}_2\text{O}$$

Copper oxide is reduced to copper.

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Let me know if you'd like to combine this with oxidation in a redox comparison table, or need a classroom worksheet for practice!