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

GRADE 8 SCIENCE, what effects do human technologies have on our water syste...

what effects do human technologies have on our water systems?

Excretion, Excretory organ for protozoa

Excretory organ for protozoa

Explain indinavir, Indinavir (IDV, Crixivan) Indinavir has good oral ...

Indinavir (IDV, Crixivan) Indinavir has good oral bioavailability. Indinavir 800 mg combined with ritonavir 100 mg  (both b.i.d. for ease of use) was comparable in effectiven

What are the factors that for influencing photosynthesis, What are the fact...

What are the factors that for influencing photosynthesis also interfere with the gross primary productivity? Mostly water and light, but also mineral salts, temperature and car

What is the difference between bacterial and animal cells, Q. Concerning th...

Q. Concerning the presence of the nucleus what is the difference between bacterial and animal cells? Animal cells (cells of living beings of the kingdom Animalia) have an inte

Why women considered the weaker sex, The Y chromosome (for males) is less p...

The Y chromosome (for males) is less protective against hereditary diseases than the X chromosome. Why then are women considered the weaker sex?

What are extraembryonic membranes, Q. What are extraembryonic membranes? ...

Q. What are extraembryonic membranes? Extraembryonic membranes are membranous structures that appear in parallel with the embryo and play vital roles in the embryonic developme

Aspirin, ASPIRIN - It is acetylsalicyclic acid (C 6 H 4 (OCOCH) 3 ...

ASPIRIN - It is acetylsalicyclic acid (C 6 H 4 (OCOCH) 3 CH 3 ). It changes in salicyclic acid in body. It is analgesic, antipyratic (fever reducing), anti inflamma

Integumentary system - various glands, OTHE R GLANDS - (i) Mammary gl...

OTHE R GLANDS - (i) Mammary glands - Study of mammary gland is mastology. Modified sweat gland. 4-5 pairs in rabbit. 1 pair in human. In opposum 25 pairs (max.).

Preservation of tooth structure, Q. Preservation of Tooth Structure? Fi...

Q. Preservation of Tooth Structure? Fixed partial dentures have been considered the standard of treatment prior to advent of implant therapy. However, to obtain optimal esthe

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