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

Biological monitoring to validate that the sterilizer, Q. Biological monito...

Q. Biological monitoring to validate that the sterilizer? The use of biological monitors (spore tests) is the most reliable method to validate that the sterilizer is functionin

Where letters represent genetic markers and black dot, Two homologous human...

Two homologous human chromosomes have the following structure: where the letters represent genetic markers and the black dot represents the centromere. 1. Diagram the two chromosom

What are the causes of endodontic pain, What are the causes of endodontic p...

What are the causes of endodontic pain? Lesions in retreatment cases called post endodontic diseases. Reasons of Endo retreatment; = reasons of failure: - Signs or symptoms of

List the five functions controlled by hypothalamus, List the five functions...

List the five functions controlled by hypothalamus. Hypothalamus controls many important functions which are as follows: a) Blood pressure control b) Hunger and thirst

Illustrate spoilage of milk and milk products, Q. Illustrate Spoilage of Mi...

Q. Illustrate Spoilage of Milk and Milk Products? Milk is a wholesome food and so it is generally consumed in its basic form or with the addition of a beverage supplement. Mil

The key enzymes of gluconeogenesis, The key enzymes of gluconeogenesis,incl...

The key enzymes of gluconeogenesis,include: a)  Pyruvate carboxylase b)  Phosphoenol pyruvate carboxykinase c)  Fructose- 1,6-bisphosphatase,  and d)  Glucose-6-phosph

Anticoagulant therapy, Anticoagulant therapy To prevent blood clottin...

Anticoagulant therapy To prevent blood clotting on the valve, patients with prosthetic valves require life long anticoagulant therapy. The patient is put on oral antico

Islet of langerhans, Islet of Langerhans: They are insulin-producing tissue...

Islet of Langerhans: They are insulin-producing tissues. It was discovered by Paul Langerhans in 1869. These cells are in groups and look like islands in the pancreas. There are ab

What are the lateral meristems, What are the lateral meristems? Where can t...

What are the lateral meristems? Where can they be found and which kind of plant growth do they promote? The Lateral or the secondary, meristems, are the cambium and the phellog

Agriculture, what''s a mature female sheep called

what''s a mature female sheep called

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