What does oxidizable mean?
Oxidizable is an adjective meaning capable of being oxidized, or of undergoing a chemical reaction involving oxygen or the loss of electrons. It describes a substance that can react with oxygen and may be vulnerable to processes such as rusting, tarnishing, discoloration, or deterioration. The term is common in chemistry, materials science, environmental science, and discussions of oils and foods. For example, unsaturated oils are often described as oxidizable because they can react with oxygen and become rancid. The word is especially useful when describing a material’s chemical susceptibility rather than the reaction itself: oxidation is the process, while oxidizable identifies a substance capable of taking part in it. In American English, oxidizable is standard; British English generally spells it oxidisable.
adjectiveCapable of being oxidized; able to undergo a chemical reaction in which a substance combines with oxygen or loses electrons.
- Capable of undergoing oxidation.
"Many metals are oxidizable when exposed to moisture and air."
"The scientist tested which oils were most oxidizable under high temperatures."
"Iron filings are readily oxidizable in the presence of air and water."
Oxidizable means a substance is ready to enter into a reaction with oxygen, the process behind rusting, tarnishing, and many forms of spoilage.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does oxidizable come from?
Oxidizable derives from the Latin root oxid-, meaning “to sour” or “to become sharp,” and is related to oxide and oxidation. The modern sense developed through the history of chemical terminology, in which oxidation came to describe both reactions with oxygen and the loss of electrons. The English forms oxidize, oxidation, and oxidizable were adapted from this chemical vocabulary, with the -able suffix expressing the capacity to undergo the stated process.
Related word forms
How oxidizable is actually used
The spelling oxidizable is standard in American English; British English commonly uses oxidisable. The term is chiefly technical and is often used with words such as material, compound, substance, or oil.
Easily confused with oxidizable
Oxidisable is the British spelling of oxidizable; both words have the same meaning.
Oxidation names the chemical process, whereas oxidizable describes a substance capable of undergoing that process.