Question

Which of the following statement is INCORRECT for the concept of oxidation?

• A. Addition of oxygen
• B. Removal of hydrogen
• C. Decreases in number of positive charges
• D. Decreases in number of negative charges
• E. Removal of an electron

Hint:

Oxidation means loss of electrons, gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen, or increase in oxidation number. Reduction is the opposite process.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Recall the modern concept of oxidation.
Oxidation may be defined in several equivalent ways, such as: \[ \text{addition of oxygen} \] \[ \text{removal of hydrogen} \] \[ \text{loss of electrons} \] \[ \text{increase in oxidation number} \]

Step 2: Check option (1).
Addition of oxygen is a classical definition of oxidation. Therefore, option \((1)\) is correct and cannot be the incorrect statement.

Step 3: Check option (2).
Removal of hydrogen is also a standard classical definition of oxidation. Hence option \((2)\) is correct.

Step 4: Check option (5).
Removal of an electron means loss of electron, and oxidation is defined as loss of electron. Therefore, option \((5)\) is also correct.

Step 5: Check option (4).
Decrease in the number of negative charges means the species becomes less negative or more positive in character, which is consistent with oxidation. So option \((4)\) is also acceptable.

Step 6: Check option (3).
A decrease in the number of positive charges means the species becomes less positive, which corresponds to gaining electrons or reduction, not oxidation. Therefore, this statement is incorrect for oxidation.

Step 7: State the final answer.
Hence, the incorrect statement for oxidation is:
\[ \boxed{\text{Decreases in number of positive charges}} \] which matches option \((3)\).