[theamit]

Hello,

I have been having a very odd doubt in my head as I was reading my way through "Redox Reactions".
As per what i have read, reduction can in a way be defined as the addition of an electronegative element or removal of oxygen.
Also that oxidation is removal of electropositve or removal of hydrogen.

Now, the problem is that as you can see in the reaction-
            2 HgO (s)  2 Hg (l)  + O2 (g)

it is said that it is an example of reduction (as oxygen is being reduced from mercuric oxide)...but, as I have learnt that oxygen is an electronegative element and should'nt its removal mean oxidation ?

I hope this dosent sound very dumb, but it will really help if somebody could explain it to me.

Thank you very much in advance!
Amit Kumar

[Borek]

reduction can in a way be defined as the addition of an electronegative element

Doesn't sound correct to me.