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

Explain the spermatogonium and spermatocyte I, What is the difference betwe...

What is the difference between spermatogonium and spermatocyte I? The male germ cells are the spermatogonia (diploid cells, 2n) located in the testicles. They mature and by mea

Public-private dichotomy in providing health services, Normal 0 ...

Normal 0 false false false EN-IN X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4

Hypoglycaemic treatment, Hypoglycaemic coma is a medical emergency. A loss ...

Hypoglycaemic coma is a medical emergency. A loss of consciousness is due to low sugar level. Patient should immediately be given biscuits, chocolates, sweet, fruit. If unconscious

Vascular tissues, VASCULA R TISSUES (= FLUID TISSUES) - The vascula...

VASCULA R TISSUES (= FLUID TISSUES) - The vascular tissues are of two types: blood and lymph.

Guards for machines and equipment, Guards for Machines and Equipment ...

Guards for Machines and Equipment Various machines and equipment used for manufacturing require guards for protecting the operator from any injury. These machines include: Wo

Rejection reaction, Rejection Reaction For rejection reaction the phys...

Rejection Reaction For rejection reaction the physiological and biochemical processes are set in the pistil by the recognition reaction specific to the type of pollen that lan

Fats requirement in diabetes, Q. Fats requirement in diabetes? Fats: Th...

Q. Fats requirement in diabetes? Fats: The total fat recommended by WHO is less than 30% of the total calories. However in view of the widely prevalent Asian paradox in India,

Homework, The Waldorf family was caught in a fire but escaped. Unfortunatel...

The Waldorf family was caught in a fire but escaped. Unfortunately, the father and daughter suffered burns. The father had second-degree burns on his entire chest, abdomen, and bot

Intracellular digestion, Intracellular Digestion We all know that unic...

Intracellular Digestion We all know that unicellular organisms do not have a separate alimentary canal system. All the functions of life are carried out inside a single cell.

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