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Free radical reactions are redox reactions that occur as part of homeostasis and killing microorganisms. In these reactions, an electron detaches from a molecule and then re-attaches almost instantly. Free radicals are part of redox molecules and can become harmful to the human body if they do not reattach to the redox molecule or an antioxidant.
An atom (or ion) whose oxidation number increases in a redox reaction is said to be oxidized (and is called a reducing agent). It is accomplished by loss of one or more electrons. The atom whose oxidation number decreases gains (receives) one or more electrons and is said to be reduced. This relation can be remembered by the following mnemonics.
For example, an enzyme that catalyzed this reaction would be an oxidoreductase: A – + B → A + B – In this example, A is the reductant (electron donor) and B is the oxidant (electron acceptor). In biochemical reactions, the redox reactions are sometimes more difficult to see, such as this reaction from glycolysis:
A redox gradient is a series of reduction-oxidation reactions sorted according to redox potential. [ 4 ] [ 5 ] The redox ladder displays the order in which redox reactions occur based on the free energy gained from redox pairs.
In reactions involving donation of a hydrogen atom, oxygen is reduced to water (H 2 O) or hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2). Some oxidation reactions, such as those involving monoamine oxidase or xanthine oxidase, typically do not involve free molecular oxygen. [1] [2] The oxidases are a subclass of the oxidoreductases. The use of dioxygen is the ...
Illustration of a redox reaction Sodium chloride is formed through the redox reaction of sodium metal and chlorine gas. Redox reactions can be understood in terms of the transfer of electrons from one involved species (reducing agent) to another (oxidizing agent). In this process, the former species is oxidized and the latter is reduced. Though ...
The chain of redox reactions driving the flow of electrons through the electron transport chain, from electron donors such as NADH to electron acceptors such as oxygen and hydrogen (protons), is an exergonic process – it releases energy, whereas the synthesis of ATP is an endergonic process, which requires an input of energy.
In the gas phase, the comproportionation reaction is much faster because of the much higher mobility of the reacting species as illustrated, e.g., in the Claus reaction where H 2 S and SO 2 react together to form elemental sulfur. Various classical comproportionation reactions are detailed in the series of examples here below.