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

Polypeptide chains of hemoglobin, Q. In sickle cell anemia, a hereditary di...

Q. In sickle cell anemia, a hereditary disease, there is replacement of one amino acid by another in one of the four polypeptide chains of hemoglobin. In this case are all of the s

What are the major functions of the blood, Q What are the major functions o...

Q What are the major functions of the blood? The blood is a means of substance transportation throughout the body. The blood distributes hormones, nutrients, oxygen, cells and

What is the essential concepts of endosseous healing, Essential Concepts of...

Essential Concepts of Endosseous healing 1) Osteoblast is the prime bone matrix synthesizing cell. Like most secretory cells, osteoblasts are polarized cells, and the direction

Slight or no metamorphosis, Slight or no Metamorphosis In primitive w...

Slight or no Metamorphosis In primitive wingless insects (Apterygota) such as spring tails, silver fish etc. and in secondarily apterous insects the young ones which hatch fr

Which are the living beings that carry out photosynthesis, Which are the li...

Which are the living beings that carry out photosynthesis? Which is the cell organelle responsible for the absorption of light for the photosynthesis process in plants and algae?

Explain diet from lifestyle risk factors, Explain diet from Lifestyle Risk ...

Explain diet from Lifestyle Risk Factors ? The lifestyle factors are the way of living of an individual and comprise of the diet, smoking, alcohol, physical activity and stress

What are diseases of the connective tissue, What are diseases of the connec...

What are diseases of the connective tissue? What are some of them? Diseases of the connective tissue are hereditary or acquired diseases(lots of autoimmune cause) characterized

What si adenosine or dipyridamole thallium scan, Q. What si Adenosine or Di...

Q. What si Adenosine or Dipyridamole Thallium Scan? These studies are newer modalities that allow studying perfusion abnormalities to the myocardium when the patient cannot per

Ascitic fluid collection - specimen collection, Pleural, Pericardial, and A...

Pleural, Pericardial, and Ascitic fluid Collection:      The procedure is called paracentesis . If for pleural cavity is called thoracocentesis , and for pericardial cavity c

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