oxidize Meaning, Definition & Usage
-
verb enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide
oxidise; oxidate.
- This metal oxidizes easily
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verb add oxygen to or combine with oxygen
oxidise; oxidate.
WordNet
Ox"i*dize transitive verb
Wordforms
Definitions
(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.
