Chemical reduction refers to a process in which a chemical compound is reduced, meaning that it experiences a decrease in oxidation state or an increase in the number of electrons. Other terms that can be used interchangeably with chemical reduction include redox reduction, electrochemical reduction, and reduction-oxidation reaction. A chemical reaction involving chemical reduction can be identified by the transfer of electrons from one substance to another, which results in a decrease in the positive charge on the receiving molecule. The opposite of chemical reduction is chemical oxidation, which is also known as redox reaction, and involves the transfer of electrons from one substance to another leading to an increase in its oxidation state.