How are oxidation and reduction reactions linked?

So here are the basic concepts of .

Both reactions are part of . RED(uce)-OX(idise)? Get it?

Now oxidation is the reaction that involves LOSING electrons. Any reaction that involves losing electrons can be considered as an oxidation reaction. Whereas, reduction is the reaction that involves GAINING electrons and yup any reactions that involves gaining electrons can be considered as a reduction reaction.

In a redox reaction, there are also oxidising agent and reducing agent. But counterintuitively the oxidising agent is the substance that gets reduced and and the reducing agent is the substance that gets oxidised.

E.g

##2Na## + ##Cl_2## > ##2NaCl##

Sodium lost its electron to Chlorine (Sodium is a reducing agent though being oxidised.)

Chlorine gained an electron from Sodium (Chlorine is an oxidising agent though being reduced.)