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

Technique of operation, Technique of Operation :  TEE probe i...

Technique of Operation :  TEE probe is passed in all cases soon after anaesthesia. The initial steps and exposure of mitral valve are done as for open mitral valvotom

Perceptual disorders, Perceptual Disorders The procedure actually const...

Perceptual Disorders The procedure actually constitute a sub-battery and include tests of the subject's ability to recognise shapes by touch and identifies numbers written on t

Determine the method of recombination, Which of the following is a false st...

Which of the following is a false statement regarding the method of recombination or crossing-over? A. Crossing-over takes place during prophase I of meiosis B. Recombinatio

Skeletal tissues - cartilage, SKELETA L TISSUES - These connective ...

SKELETA L TISSUES - These connective tissues form the endoskeleton of the vertebrates. These support the body, protect the various organs and help in locomotion. Skel

Explain the life cycle of the gymnosperms, Q. What is the life cycle of the...

Q. What is the life cycle of the gymnosperms? As all plants they present a diplobiontic life cycle that is alternation of generations with haploid and diploid stages and the la

Illustrate stents, Q. Illustrate Stents? Stents are metallic scaffolds ...

Q. Illustrate Stents? Stents are metallic scaffolds that are deployed within a diseased segment of a coronary artery to establish and then maintain a widely patent lumen. Stent

Extravascular compression, Most of the coronary blood flow to the left vent...

Most of the coronary blood flow to the left ventricular myocardium occurs during diastole. Thus the contracting heart obstructs its own blood supply. The systolic compressive force

Emulsion preparation, Em u l sio n preparation Frozen deboned meat,...

Em u l sio n preparation Frozen deboned meat, fat and by-products are tempered at 0° to 4° C for 12to 15 hr and cut into pieces and coarse minced by passing through 8, 10 o

Determine about the visual axes of eyes, Determine about the visual axes of...

Determine about the visual axes of eyes In normal eyes, the visual axes are parallel to each other in the primary position of gaze. This position is usually maintained but in t

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