Which type of chemical reaction is also a form of oxidation?

• A. Sparking
• B. Self-heating
• C. Resistance heating
• D. Spontaneous ignition

Answer: (B)

Oxidation is a chemical reaction where a substance gains oxygen or loses electrons, often releasing heat in the process. Self-heating describes substances that undergo oxidation internally, generating heat without an external heat source. As those internal oxidation reactions continue, the heat accumulates and can raise the material’s temperature, sometimes leading to ignition if heat isn’t dissipated. Because self-heating directly involves oxidation reactions that release energy, it fits as the form of oxidation described in the options. The other terms refer to heating or ignition mechanisms that aren’t themselves oxidation processes—sparking is electrical discharge, resistance heating is heat from electrical resistance, and spontaneous ignition is the outcome of heat buildup rather than a type of chemical reaction.