Nursing Preparation Study Guide

Nursing Preparation Study Guide term reduction now includes all processes and reactions that involve the gain of electrons or the decrease in the oxidation state. Redox is a word coined from reduction and oxidation. Redox, or oxidation and reduction reactions, comprise chemical reactions where the oxidation state of the atoms involved have been changed. Redox could occur in as simple a chemical process as the oxidation process where carbon is oxidized to produce carbon dioxide (CO2) or the use of hydrogen in the reduction of carbon to produce methane (CH4). Redox could also occur in relatively complex reactions such as oxidization of glucose inside the human body. Redox reactions are primarily associated with the production of oxides with the interaction with oxygen and others, such as oxidation substances. However, redox reactions also include the transfer of electrons during reactions. One peculiar characteristic of redox is that they occur as a matched set; thus, it is not possible to have an oxidation reaction without having a corresponding reduction reaction. This is why oxidation on its own is known as a half reaction. Together, they form the complete reaction because they cannot occur on their own. One side of the reaction loses electrons, while the other side gains electrons during the reaction. In is very important to note that while the loss or gain of electrons usually happens in most oxidation and reduction reactions, chemical reactions where electrons are not gained or lost can still be called oxidation and reduction reactions. The definition of oxidation and reduction reactions could thus be more accurately defined as follows: oxidation is the increase in the oxidation state, and reduction is the decrease of the oxidation state, even though electrons may not always be transferred. The transfer of electrons would usually result in the change of oxidation state, but several reactions qualify to be termed oxidation or reduction reactions although no electrons were transferred. A good example of these reactions is chemical covalent bonds.

©2018

Achieve Test Prep

Page 164

of 173