The increase of bonds to atoms other than carbon or hydrogen is referred to as what?

The increase of bonds to atoms other than carbon or hydrogen is referred to as oxidation. In organic chemistry, oxidation describes the process where a molecule undergoes an increase in oxidation state, often achieved by the formation of bonds to more electronegative atoms, such as oxygen or nitrogen, while simultaneously losing hydrogen atoms. This shift increases the number of bonds to heteroatoms, clearly distinguishing it from other chemical processes such as reduction, which typically involves gaining electrons or forming bonds with hydrogen, leading to a decrease in oxidation state.

In contrast, reduction and oxidation are fundamental processes where one is essentially the reverse of the other, but only oxidation specifically emphasizes the increase in bonds to atoms like oxygen. Substitution reactions, on the other hand, involve replacing one atom or group in a molecule with another but do not inherently relate to changes in oxidation state. Elimination reactions involve the removal of atoms or groups from a molecule, forming double bonds or rings, which is also not directly relevant to the concept of increasing heteroatoms. Thus, oxidation is the correct term to describe the increase in bonds to atoms other than carbon or hydrogen in this context.