oxidize

oxidize — verb

1. to react with oxygen, or make something react with oxygen, so it changes chemica

1.動詞及物 / 不及物C2
釋義

to react with oxygen, or make something react with oxygen, so it changes chemically, often by rusting or turning brown.

例句

When cut apples oxidize, the white flesh turns brown quickly.

intransitive: food changes in air

Iron pipes oxidized after years of rain and sea air.

同義詞
  • rust

    narrower, mainly for iron or steel forming a reddish-brown layer

  • corrode

    broader and often focuses on damage to metal, not only oxygen reaction

  • react

    much broader scientific verb; oxidation is only one type of reaction

反義詞
  • reduce

    the opposite process in chemistry, though the wording depends on context

文法句型

metal/substance oxidize

oxidize + metal/food/oil

be oxidized by air/heat

用法筆記

Usually used for metals, foods, oils, and other substances exposed to air, heat, or chemicals. Distinguish from sense 2, which explains oxidation through electron loss rather than through oxygen itself.

常見錯誤

❌Salt water made the nail to oxidize.
✅Salt water made the nail oxidize.
💡after 'make', use the bare verb, not 'to' + verb.
❌The apple was oxidized to brown.
✅The apple oxidized and turned brown.
💡English normally uses 'oxidize' for the chemical change and a second verb for the color result.

2. to lose electrons during a chemical reaction, or to cause a substance to lose th

2.動詞及物 / 不及物C2
釋義

to lose electrons during a chemical reaction, or to cause a substance to lose them.

例句

In this reaction, zinc oxidizes and gives electrons to copper ions.

pattern: element oxidizes and gives electrons

The teacher said iron is oxidized when it loses two electrons.

passive: be oxidized when ...

同義詞
反義詞
  • reduce

    to gain electrons in the opposite chemical process

文法句型

atom/ion/element oxidize

oxidize + atom/ion/element

be oxidized when it loses electrons

用法筆記

Common in chemistry classes and textbooks, often paired with reduction in the same reaction. Distinguish from sense 1: oxygen may not appear at all, because the key idea here is electron loss.

常見錯誤

❌Copper reduced when it lost electrons.
✅Copper oxidized when it lost electrons.
💡losing electrons is oxidation; reduction is the opposite.
❌The atom oxidized by gaining electrons.
✅The atom oxidized by losing electrons.
💡this sense is defined by electron loss, not electron gain.