oxidize

[ ok-si-dahyz ]

verb (used with object)

, ox·i·dized, ox·i·diz·ing.

1. to convert (an element) into an oxide; combine with oxygen.
2. to cover with a coating of oxide or rust.
3. to take away hydrogen, as by the action of oxygen; add oxygen or any nonmetal.
4. to remove electrons from (an atom or molecule), thereby increasing the valence. Compare reduce ( def 12 ).

verb (used without object)

, ox·i·dized, ox·i·diz·ing.

1. to become oxidized.
2. (especially of white wine) to lose freshness after prolonged exposure to air and often to darken in color.

oxidize

/ ˈɒksɪˌdaɪz /

verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo a chemical reaction with oxygen, as in formation of an oxide
2. to form or cause to form a layer of metal oxide, as in rusting
3. to lose or cause to lose hydrogen atoms
4. to undergo or cause to undergo a decrease in the number of electrons Compare reduce

oxidize

/ ŏk′sĭ-dīz′ /

1. To undergo or cause to undergo oxidation.

Derived Forms

• ˌoxidiˈzation, noun

Other Words From

• oxi·diza·ble ox·i·da·ble [ok, -si-d, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• oxi·diza·bili·ty noun
• anti·oxi·dizing adjective
• half-oxi·dized adjective
• non·oxi·diza·ble adjective
• non·oxi·dizing adjective
• over·oxi·dize verb overoxidized overoxidizing
• re·oxi·dize verb reoxidized reoxidizing
• under·oxi·dize verb (used with object) underoxidized underoxidizing
• un·oxi·diza·ble adjective
• un·oxi·dized adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of oxidize¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; oxide + -ize

Example Sentences

It’s full of metallic iron, rather than the oxidized type of iron that plants can use.

From Science News For Students

The researchers found that zapping the material with electricity to oxidize the surface will trigger it to change its surface tension and thus, the shape of the liquid metal.

From Popular-Science

Beta cells have low levels of antioxidants and are susceptible to attack by metabolic and dietary oxidized free radicals and AGEs.

From No Straight News

As the groundwater seeped into the lake, the iron became oxidized and precipitated out as goethite particles.

From Science News

The methane produced in the soil is being transported from the roots all the way up rather than being oxidized in the soil.

From Popular-Science

Of course, this causes the nail clippers to oxidize and the water turns rusty, but it boils.

From The Daily Beast

They oxidize organic materials, changing them to compounds that can be absorbed by plants and used in building protoplasm.

From Project Gutenberg

My purpose in slackening my heat as soon as the pig-iron was melted was to oxidize the phosphorus and sulphur ahead of the carbon.

From Project Gutenberg

The purpose now is to oxidize the carbon, too, without reducing the phosphorus and sulphur and causing them to return to the iron.

From Project Gutenberg

Just as alcohol vaporizes at a lower heat than water, so sulphur and phosphorus oxidize at a lower heat than carbon.

From Project Gutenberg

Chromic and nitric acids oxidize it to oxalic acid and carbon dioxide.

From Project Gutenberg