Concept in Definition ABC

The concept of oxide is part of the terminology used in chemistry. A basic oxide is the compound that is obtained when a metal and oxygen (for example, by reacting the iron in a bicycle wheel with the oxygen in the air an iron oxide is formed).

The different compounds are named with the word oxide followed by the name of the metal, for example sodium, aluminum or calcium oxide. This is so as long as the metal has only one valence. In the case that the metal has two valences, the ending bear is used for the minor and the ending ico for the major (for example, iron has valence 2 and 3 and if we work with the lower the compound will be called ferrous oxide and if we work with the higher the compound will be known as oxide ferric).

Chemical formulation

If we present a chemical formula, on its left side we refer to a reagent (one metal plus oxygen) and on the side right the product that is formed from the reagent appears (for example, calcium + oxygen = calcium oxide).

The transformation of a body due to the action of oxygen is a very common phenomenon that affects those objects. of metal that are outdoors and that cause wear on them, for which substances are applied antioxidants.

In any chemical oxidation process there is a reduction, in the sense that a substance chemistry loses a series of electrons. The development of oxidation is variable in terms of speed deterioration, but normally these are slow processes that can affect a metal or the human body itself.

Oxidation beyond chemistry

Although rust is properly a chemical process, in our language Every day this concept is used with some frequency to refer to physical or mental deterioration, which is also a chemical transformation. If a person is not in the habit of exercising his mind and suddenly makes an intense intellectual effort, he can affirm that "his brain is rusty." Something very similar happens when physical exercise is not performed regularly, which produces an effect of wear and tear and functional deterioration that is similar to oxidation.

It must be taken into account that the oxidation applied to the human body occurs simply by the simple fact of breathing and consuming Energy, which generates the well-known free radicals (which are the cells that cause oxidation and lack sufficient electrons).