Some biological staining procedures rely on the chemical processes of oxidation and reduction.
- Oxidation - the chemical reaction resulting in the removal of electrons from a molecule
- Reduction - the chemical reaction resulting in the addition of electrons to a molecule
Essentially, the oxidation-reduction reaction involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another. Where staining techniques are concerned, oxidizers and reducers act on tissue so that dyes and/or reagents applied in subsequent procedural steps are able to bind with the desired tissue elements.
