What do redox reactions involve?

Redox reactions, or reduction-oxidation reactions, fundamentally involve the transfer of electrons between atoms or molecules. In these types of reactions, one substance is oxidized, meaning it loses electrons, while another is reduced, meaning it gains electrons. This transfer of electrons is essential because it drives the chemical changes that occur during the reaction.

In addition to the electron transfer, these reactions are also accompanied by changes in oxidation states of the involved elements. This characteristic is what makes redox reactions crucial in various biochemical processes, such as cellular respiration, as well as in industrial applications like metal extraction and batteries.

While the other options mention different aspects of chemical processes, they do not accurately describe the key feature of redox reactions. The transfer of mass and rearrangement of chemical bonds can occur in many types of chemical reactions but are not specific to redox reactions. The conversion of energy from glucose relates to biochemical pathways but again does not encompass the electron transfer central to redox processes.