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Oxidation half-cell


This is the half-cell in which oxidation occurs when it is connected to a different half-cell.


Example

In a cell comprising copper and zinc half-cells, zinc half-cell is the oxidation half-cell because zinc is more reactive than copper. Zinc metal loses electrons and goes into solution as zinc ions (Zn(s)/Zn2+(aq)), which is an oxidation process. Copper ions are reduced to copper metal as they gain electrons from zinc (Cu2+(aq)/Cu(s)).


Cell representation: Zn(s)/Zn2+(aq)//Cu2+(aq)/Cu(s)