Which process is described as a loss of electrons?

The process described as a loss of electrons is oxidation. In chemistry, oxidation refers specifically to the loss of electrons by an atom, ion, or molecule. This process is often accompanied by a corresponding gain of electrons by another substance, which is known as reduction. Together, oxidation and reduction reactions form the basis of many chemical reactions, including those that occur in metabolic processes and in various types of energy production.

Understanding oxidation is crucial in fields such as biochemistry and electrochemistry, as it plays a vital role in both energy transfer and cellular respiration. For example, in the case of cellular respiration, glucose is oxidized to produce energy that cells can use.

The other processes listed do not describe the specific loss of electrons. Electrolysis, for example, is a method that uses electrical current to drive a non-spontaneous chemical reaction, and while it involves the movement of electrons, it's not specifically defined by their loss. Facilitated diffusion describes the process by which substances move across a cell membrane via transport proteins, and condensation refers to the process where gas turns into liquid, often involving the release of heat but not the loss of electrons.