Explain the following terms with one example each.

Certainly, I’ll explain each term with an example:

Oxidation:

Definition: Oxidation is a chemical reaction in which a substance loses electrons, typically to oxygen, resulting in an increase in the substance’s oxidation state.
Example: The rusting of iron is a common example of oxidation. When iron (Fe) reacts with oxygen (O2) in the presence of water (H2O), it forms iron oxide (Fe2O3), commonly known as rust:
4Fe(s) + 3O2(g) + 6H2O(l) → 4Fe2O3·H2O(s)
Reduction:

Definition: Reduction is the opposite of oxidation; it involves a chemical reaction in which a substance gains electrons, typically from another substance, leading to a decrease in its oxidation state.
Example: The electrolysis of water to produce hydrogen gas (H2) and oxygen gas (O2) is an example of reduction. In this process, water (H2O) is reduced to form hydrogen gas and oxygen gas by the addition of electrons:
2H2O(l) → 2H2(g) + O2(g)
Catalyst:

Definition: A catalyst is a substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the reaction itself. It provides an alternative pathway with lower activation energy for the reaction to occur.
Example: Enzymes in biological systems are excellent examples of catalysts. For instance, the enzyme catalase accelerates the decomposition of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) into water (H2O) and oxygen (O2) without being consumed in the process:
2H2O2(aq) → 2H2O(l) + O2(g)
Sublimation:

Definition: Sublimation is the transition of a substance from the solid phase directly to the gas phase without passing through the liquid phase. It occurs when the substance’s vapor pressure exceeds its solid phase’s pressure.
Example: An example of sublimation is the transition of dry ice (solid carbon dioxide, CO2) into gaseous carbon dioxide without melting. Dry ice goes from a solid directly to a gas when it is heated, and this process is used for creating special effects in the entertainment industry and for refrigeration.
Precipitation:

Definition: Precipitation refers to the formation of a solid (precipitate) from a solution as a result of a chemical reaction, typically a double displacement reaction, where two soluble compounds react to form an insoluble product.
Example: The mixing of silver nitrate (AgNO3) and sodium chloride (NaCl) solutions, as mentioned earlier, leads to the precipitation of silver chloride (AgCl) as a solid in a double displacement reaction:
AgNO3(aq) + NaCl(aq) → AgCl(s) + NaNO3(aq)