Redox reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which both oxidation and reduction take place simultaneously. Oxidation is the loss of electrons, while reduction is the gain of electrons. In a redox reaction, one reactant gets oxidized, while the other gets reduced. A chemical reaction in which the oxidation number of a participating chemical species varies is called a redox reaction.

Redox reactions are all around us, from the burning of fuels to the corrosion of metals. One example of a redox reaction is the reaction between Zinc and Copper, where Copper metal is obtained when Zinc reduces the Cu2+ ion in the Copper sulfate solution. Another example is the reaction between zinc oxide and carbon to give zinc and carbon monoxide.

To identify a redox reaction, we need to check whether both oxidation and reduction are taking place. In oxidation, oxygen gets added to a substance, while in reduction, oxygen gets removed from a substance.