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

Handling animals in lab, Handling : The desire for survival is same whethe...

Handling : The desire for survival is same whether in animals or human beings. You may be aware of the ability of even tiny animals to scratch and bite. So we won't say any more o

How to promote physical activity to combat from obesity, How to Promote Phy...

How to Promote Physical Activity to combat from Obesity? For many children, low physical activity rather than excessive energy intake is the primary culprit. Management of obes

Explain post-lyme disease syndrome, Explain Post-lyme disease syndrome  ...

Explain Post-lyme disease syndrome  Some treated patients whose objective manifestations of Lyme disease have resolved with antibiotic treatment report subjective symptoms suc

How do cells obtain energy for their functioning, How do cells obtain energ...

How do cells obtain energy for their functioning? Cells obtain energy for their metabolic reactions from the breaking of organic molecules with high energetic content. This ene

Explain zalcitabine and adverse effects, Explain Zalcitabine and adverse ef...

Explain Zalcitabine and adverse effects Zalcitabine - Zalcitabine appears to be less effective, less convenient and more toxic than the other NRTIs; it is used rarely. Ad

Cyanide - enzyme-activity control, Cyanide - Enzyme-activity Control P...

Cyanide - Enzyme-activity Control Plants generate cyanide from cyanogenic glucides and histidines. Ethylene biosynthesis is also accompanied by cyanide production. Nitrate red

Protection of protein meals or bypass protein, Protection of protein meals ...

Protection of protein meals or bypass protein The protein of oil cakes, having higher protein degradability, such as groundnut cake, mustard cake are utilized in the rumen les

Explain the criteria for assessment of folate status, Explain the Criteria ...

Explain the Criteria for Assessment of Folate Status Red cell folate, continues to be used as an important index of folate status. It is suggested that adequate folate status i

Primary tissues, what do primary tissues of a plant do

what do primary tissues of a plant do

Energy requirement during congestive cardiac failure, Q. Energy requirement...

Q. Energy requirement during congestive cardiac failure? Energy: Composition of the calorie requirements on the basis of body weight is usually not feasible due to the presence

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