Question

Food can spoil through mere exposure to air because it will lose electrons. This loss of electrons creates free radicals, which destroy chemical bonds in the food, causing it to spoil. What is this process called?

Answer 1

The oxygen gas in the air can react with the food and gain the electrons from food. So for food, this process is called oxidation.

Answer 2

Explanation:

A chemical process in which loss of electrons occur is known as oxidation process.

For example, $Cu(s) \rightarrow Cu^{2+}(aq) + 2e^{-}$

Therefore, when food is exposed to air for a longer period of time then oxygen molecules in the air forms an oxide layer upon it resulting in the oxidation of food. This is because food loses electrons and these electrons are gained by oxygen molecules.

Hence, food becomes unfit to consume, that is, food gets spoiled. This process is known as oxidation.