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

Kingdom fungi, what are the characteristis in species in the phyla division...

what are the characteristis in species in the phyla division

Define important food sources of protein, Define Important Food Sources of ...

Define Important Food Sources of Protein? The important sources of proteins in the diets of low-income groups are cereals and legumes. Meat, fish, eggs and milk are important s

What is the pleiotropy, What is the pleiotropy? The Pleiotropy (or plio...

What is the pleiotropy? The Pleiotropy (or pliotropy) is the phenomenon in which a single gene conditions several various phenotypical traits. Few phenotypical traits may be

Marine biotechnology, what are the biotechnology techniques used in the fis...

what are the biotechnology techniques used in the fisheries?

Responsible for the regulation of blood glucose, The pancreas produces insu...

The pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that is specifically produced in the beta cells of the pancreas and it is responsible for the regulation of blood glucose. After carefull c

What emergency department after an automobile accident, An 22 year old man ...

An 22 year old man is admitted to the emergency department after an automobile accident. He has not lost a large amount of blood, but he suffers from a severe crush injury to hi

Propose an experiment to test, Can enhancers work in Trans? That is, can an...

Can enhancers work in Trans? That is, can an enhancer on one piece of DNA activate a promoter on another piece of DNA? Propose an experiment to test this. Be sure to discuss any ap

Coccidioidomycosis, Coccidioidomycosis Coccidioidomycosis is a soil-...

Coccidioidomycosis Coccidioidomycosis is a soil-borne infection of pet, domestic, wild animals and  man. The disease is caused by Coccidioides immitis, a dimorphic fungus wh

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