oxidize
verb/ˈɒksɪdaɪz/
Etymology From oxide + -ize.
1
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To combine with oxygen or otherwise make an oxide.
- Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis:[…]. The evolutionary precursor of photosynthesis is still under debate, and a new study sheds light. The critical component of the photosynthetic system is the “water-oxidizing complex”, made up of manganese atoms and a calcium atom.2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
2
Chemistry, Natural sciences, Physical sciences To increase the valence (or the positive charge) of an element by removing electrons.
3
To coat something with an oxide.
4
To become oxidized.
- Derived terms
- deoxidize, electrooxidize, hyperoxidize, oxidizement, oxidizer, photooxidize, reoxidize, sesquioxidize, underoxidize
- Related terms
- oxidizable, oxidization, corrode, rust