Turtally Wrote:...Things typically don't gain/lose protons. They gain/lose electrons. So "lose electrons = reduction".
No. I don't know what perspective you're talking about. But let's theoretically talk about two objects. Object A and Object B. Object A has weak valence electrons hanging out in it's outer shell and Object B just needs one more electron to achieve a full valence shell. When Object B snatches that electron from Object A, Object B is getting reduced by obtaining one more electron. However, Object A is getting oxidized as it just losing an electron to Object B.
Going further to cover all types of confusion, let's discussing which agent is the reducing agent. Object A would be the reducing agent. As it's purpose was to donate an electron and reduce Object B. Therefore components that usually get oxidized due to their weak hold over electrons are known as reducing agents. When discussing oxidizing agent, it is more or less vice versa.
TobiasBlack Wrote:in physics, there is no such thing as reverse, its acceleration in the negative...
I don't know if this comment was directed at me but I never used the word "reverse." I just brought up the point that the signs are used as a matter of convention. In introducing physics, they usually teach such things like using the ground as the bottom is a matter of convention and some difficult problems require you to solve problems using elevated building heights as a reference point.
When discussing things like electric charge or electric force in Physics, I was simply regarding the fact that electric charge in coulombs could be presented as +1.6*10^-19 or -1.6*10^-19 as long as you are consistent and keep track of which one is designated as protons and which one is electrons. It might make things more difficult, but there is always that option in Physics.
I usually have never had to assume acceleration as electric charge. Even though acceleration is key to finding electric charge in some problems. For example using F=ma where the acceleration could be used to find the the total force of an electrostatic charge, or the quantity of the test charge, or what the value of the Electric Field that is surrounding the charged particle.