oxidation /ok′sidā″shən/ [Gk, oxys, sharp, genein, to produce, L, atio, process] , 1. any process in which the oxygen content in a compound or the number of bonds to oxygen (or another electronegative element, such as a halogen) is increased. 2. any reaction in which the positive valence of a compound or a radical is increased because of a loss of electrons. 3. any process in which the hydrogen content in a compound or the number of bonds to hydrogen (or another element of low electronegativity, such as a metal) is decreased. −oxidative, n., −oxidize, v.
