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

How hormonal status affects the bmr, How Hormonal Status affects the bmr? ...

How Hormonal Status affects the bmr? Thyroid status may be most important factor and can make differences of up to plus or minus 50% for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism, resp

Define water losses by insensible perspiration, Define water losses by Inse...

Define water losses by Insensible perspiration? Insensible perspiration accounts for a relatively constant amount of water loss that is proportional to the surface area of the

Psychological aspects of tooth loss, The psychological effects of total ede...

The psychological effects of total edentulism are complex and varied, and range from very minimal to a state of neuroticism. Although complete dentures are able to satisfy the esth

ANIMAL KINGDOM , CLASSIFICATION OF PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES..

CLASSIFICATION OF PHYLUM PLATYHELMINTHES..

Inrinsic conduction system of the heart, The cardiovascular system controls...

The cardiovascular system controls the movement of blood through thousands of miles of capillaries so that every tissue  in every part of the body is perfused. Essential nutrients

Relevance of food packaging, Q. Relevance of food packaging? To unders...

Q. Relevance of food packaging? To understand the relevance of food packaging, it is necessary for us to understand how spoilage reduces the availability of food. In the deve

Explain taxonomic concepts and their development, Explain Taxonomic Concept...

Explain Taxonomic Concepts and Their Development? The history of classification is an exciting aspect of plant taxonomy. The discovery of the use of plants for food and later

What is the important characteristics of soy protein, The important functio...

The important functional characteristics of soy protein The most important functional characteristics of soy protein concentrates are water-binding (water adsorption) capacity,

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