When a specie undergoes oxidation, its

When a species undergoes oxidation, it experiences an increase in its oxidation number. Oxidation is a chemical process where a species loses electrons. In terms of oxidation number, electrons have a negative charge, so losing them results in an increase in charge. Thus, the oxidation number of the species becomes more positive or less negative.

To help understand, consider sodium (Na) reacting with chlorine (Cl₂) to form sodium chloride (NaCl):

• Initially, the oxidation number of Na is 0 (it's in a pure element form).
• In NaCl, sodium now has an oxidation number of +1 (because it loses an electron).

This change clearly shows that when sodium is oxidized, its oxidation number increases.

Therefore, the correct explanation is: a species undergoing oxidation will have its oxidation number increase.