PSI Barbering Practice Exam

When oxygen is combined with a substance, that substance is:

1. Reduced

2. Oxidized

3. Hydrated

4. Electrolyzed

The correct answer is: Oxidized

When oxygen is combined with a substance, that substance undergoes oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical process in which an element or compound loses electrons, and the addition of oxygen to a substance typically signifies this loss. This process is fundamental to many chemical reactions, particularly combustion and respiration, where materials gain oxygen and are transformed, often resulting in the release of energy. The term "oxidized" specifically refers to the increase in oxidation state of the substance due to the addition of oxygen, aligning closely with the principles of redox (reduction-oxidation) reactions. In such reactions, when one substance is oxidized, another is reduced, which helps maintain the balance of electron transfer. While other concepts like hydration and electrolysis are relevant to chemical processes, they do not specifically describe the phenomenon of combining a substance with oxygen. Hydration refers to the addition of water molecules, and electrolysis involves the breakdown of a substance through an electric current. Thus, the accurate term for the process of combining oxygen with a substance is oxidation.