What is reduction, Biology

Assignment Help:

What is reduction?

The most commonly understood definition of reduction is the removal of oxygen or addition of hydrogen ions. However, chemically, reduction can be defined as gain of electrons just as oxidation is loss of electrons. Let us look at the illustration:

 

18_What is reduction.png

Thus, the substance that a gains electron is reduced and that loses electrons is oxidized. In the above equations, cupric gains electrons and becomes cuprous in reduction and vice versa in oxidation. In an oxidation-reduction reaction, the electron donor is oxidized and the electron acceptor is reduced. See the reaction below:

2Na + Cl2 → NaCl

The sodium is oxidized since it has lost electrons and chloride is reduced as it has gained those electrons. In organic reactions, oxidation-reduction reactions usually involve loss or gain of hydrogen. Thus, to summarize, reduction is gain of electrons, gain of hydrogen or removal of oxygen and oxidation is loss of electrons, gain of oxygen or loss of hydrogen.


Related Discussions:- What is reduction

Biology, a_molecule can be dissolved in water solution but a _molecule does...

a_molecule can be dissolved in water solution but a _molecule does not mix with water

Which part of human brain is relay station for sensory input, The part of h...

The part of human brain which is a significant relay station for the sensory impulses and also is the origin of many of the involuntary acts of eye such as narrowing of the pupil i

Is the bone marrow made of osseous tissue, Q. In which bones can bone marro...

Q. In which bones can bone marrow chiefly be found? Is the bone marrow made of osseous tissue? Bone marrow can mainly be found in the internal cavities of flat bones, like the

DIGESTION, GIVE ADETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY ...

GIVE ADETAILED ACCOUNT OF THE VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS PERFORMED BY THE LIVER

Who are a group of lay people without background science, In detail describ...

In detail describe the structure and function of the heart and blood flow. Include the conduction system and blood vessels. Make your response specific to your audience who are a g

Planning and implementation of nursing care - anaemia, Planning of Nursing ...

Planning of Nursing Care   The goals of nursing care are:  Administer oral iron supplements and parenteral iron therapy.  Provide nutritional counselling and educate t

Homework, is a cyclone density dependent or independent

is a cyclone density dependent or independent

Define association between inflammation and fever, Q. What is the associati...

Q. What is the association between inflammation and fever? In the tissue region where inflammation occurs prostaglandins, cytokines, bacterial toxins, interleukins and endothel

What is pupillary reflexes, Pupillary reflexes There are two types of r...

Pupillary reflexes There are two types of reflexes which control the pupillary reaction-the light reflex and near reflex. When light is shown on one eye, there is a constrictio

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd