Editing Redox (section)

== Mnemonics ==
<!-- All sources cited below name some or all of the mnemonics listed. There is a discussion on the talk page about the inclusion of mnemonics. -->
{{Main|List of chemistry mnemonics}}
The key terms involved in redox can be confusing.<ref name=Robertson>{{cite book
|last1= Robertson |first1= William
|title= More Chemistry Basics
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=hIzuarlXtH4C&pg=PA82
|publisher= National Science Teachers Association
|year= 2010
|page= 82
|isbn=978-1-936137-74-9}}</ref><ref name=Chemistry_ConceptsAndApplications>{{cite book
|last1= Phillips |first1= John
|last2= Strozak |first2= Victor
|last3= Wistrom |first3= Cheryl
|title= Chemistry: Concepts and Applications
|publisher= Glencoe McGraw-Hill
|year= 2000
|page= 558
|isbn= 978-0-02-828210-7}}</ref> For example, a reagent that is oxidized loses electrons; however, that reagent is referred to as the reducing agent. Likewise, a reagent that is reduced gains electrons and is referred to as the oxidizing agent.<ref name=Rodgers>{{cite book
|last1= Rodgers |first1= Glen
|title= Descriptive Inorganic, Coordination, and Solid-State Chemistry
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=g_ybia0hGw8C&pg=PA330
|publisher= Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning
|year= 2012
|page= 330
|isbn=978-0-8400-6846-0}}</ref> These [[mnemonics]] are commonly used by students to help memorise the terminology:<ref name=Zumhahl>{{cite book
|last1= Zumdahl |first1= Steven
|last2= Zumdahl |first2= Susan
|title= Chemistry
|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=IdhYqXy37KIC&pg=PA160
|publisher= Houghton Mifflin
|year= 2009
|page= 160
|isbn=978-0-547-05405-6}}</ref>
* "[[Oil rig|OIL RIG]]" — '''o'''xidation '''i'''s '''l'''oss of electrons, '''r'''eduction '''i'''s '''g'''ain of electrons<ref name=Robertson/><ref name=Chemistry_ConceptsAndApplications/><ref name=Rodgers/><ref name=Zumhahl/>
* "LEO the lion says GER [grr]" — '''l'''oss of '''e'''lectrons is '''o'''xidation, '''g'''ain of '''e'''lectrons is '''r'''eduction<ref name=Robertson/><ref name=Chemistry_ConceptsAndApplications/><ref name=Rodgers/><ref name=Zumhahl/>
* "LEORA says GEROA" — the loss of electrons is called oxidation (reducing agent); the gain of electrons is called reduction (oxidizing agent).<ref name=Rodgers/>
* "RED CAT" and "AN OX", or "AnOx RedCat" ("an ox-red cat") — reduction occurs at the cathode and the anode is for oxidation
* "RED CAT gains what AN OX loses" – reduction at the cathode gains (electrons) what anode oxidation loses (electrons)
* "PANIC" – Positive Anode and Negative is Cathode. This applies to [[electrolytic cell]]s which release stored electricity, and can be recharged with electricity. PANIC does not apply to cells that can be recharged with redox materials. These [[galvanic cell|galvanic or voltaic cell]]s, such as [[fuel cell]]s, produce electricity from internal redox reactions. Here, the positive electrode is the cathode and the negative is the anode.