Redox reactions are those <u>chemical reactions that involve the transfer of electrons between reactants</u>, altering the <em>oxidation state</em> of their elements.
In this type of reactions an element releases electrons that another element accepts, so there is a net transfer of charge.
When balancing redox reactions, not only must the chemical elements in the reactants and products be equalized (by the <em>law of conservation of the mass</em>), but also the charged that is transferred in the process must be balanced, since <u>the electrons that are lost in oxidation are the same as those that are gained in reduction (</u><em>law of conservation of charge:</em> <em>there is no destruction or net creation of electric charge</em>).
