Oxidation is a chemical process in which a substance reacts with another substance or element, resulting in the loss of electrons from the oxidized substance. In other words, the oxidized substance gives away electrons to another substance or element.
This loss of electrons during oxidation is significant because electrons are negatively charged particles that play a crucial role in chemical reactions. By losing electrons, the oxidized substance becomes positively charged or oxidized.
It's important to note that oxidation doesn't necessarily involve the gain of oxygen atoms. While some reactions involving oxidation do include the addition of oxygen, it is not a defining characteristic of oxidation. The key factor is the loss of electrons, regardless of whether oxygen atoms are involved or not.