How do people study the oxidation state of divalent metal ions? The difference is number of electrons, which are very small in mass. How do people actually study this experimentally?
Mineral oxidation occurs when an ionic chemical reaction occurs on the metal surface while oxygen is present. The chemical process involves the movement of electrons from the metal to the oxygen molecules. Then, the negative oxygen ions generate and enter the metal. This creates an oxide surface. Oxidation is a form of metallic corrosion.