When an oxidation-reduction reaction generates electrical energy spontaneously, the cell is called a(n) ________ cell. when an o
xidation-reduction reaction generates electrical energy spontaneously, the cell is called a(n) ________ cell. spontaneous exothermic thermodynamic activated voltaic?
Oxidation is the loss of electrons
and corresponds to an increase in oxidation state. Reduction is the gain of
electrons and corresponds to a decrease in oxidation state. Balancing redox
reactions can be more complicated than balancing other types of reactions
because both the mass and charge must be balanced. The half-reactions are balanced individually
and then added together so that the number of electrons generated in the
oxidation half reaction is the same as the number of electrons consumed in the
reduction half-reaction.