Help with Reduction - Organic Chemistry

Reduction involves gain of electrons whereas oxidation involves loss of electrons. In reduction, the oxidation number becomes more negative (due to gain of electrons) whereas in oxidation, the oxidation number becomes more positive. Sodium is an alkali metal, found on the first column of the periodic table. Every atom in this column has one valence electron; therefore, to complete its octet every alkali metal will lose an electron and will have an oxidation number of . It is very hard to oxidize and reduce these metals because of its desire to maintain octet; therefore, sodium can never be reduced or oxidized (it will always have an oxidation number of ).

Oxidation and reduction involve loss and gain of electrons, respectively. It does not involve loss or gain of protons. Recall that the identity of an atom is changed when the amount of protons change; therefore, it is very hard to change the amount of protons. Only few reactions (such as nuclear decay reactions) can change the number of protons and alter the identity of an atom.

is the only option that will not reduce a ketone to an alcohol, simply because it is not a reducing agent like the other four—it is an oxidizing agent. The addition of oxygens to a ketone will not yield an alcohol (oxidation). The addition of hydrogen to a ketone will yield an alcohol (reduction). The other answer options are reducing agents that would facilitate this reaction.

Reduction involves gain of electrons whereas oxidation involves loss of electrons. In reduction, the oxidation number becomes more negative (due to gain of electrons) whereas in oxidation, the oxidation number becomes more positive. Sodium is an alkali metal, found on the first column of the periodic table. Every atom in this column has one valence electron; therefore, to complete its octet every alkali metal will lose an electron and will have an oxidation number of . It is very hard to oxidize and reduce these metals because of its desire to maintain octet; therefore, sodium can never be reduced or oxidized (it will always have an oxidation number of ).

Oxidation and reduction involve loss and gain of electrons, respectively. It does not involve loss or gain of protons. Recall that the identity of an atom is changed when the amount of protons change; therefore, it is very hard to change the amount of protons. Only few reactions (such as nuclear decay reactions) can change the number of protons and alter the identity of an atom.

is the only option that will not reduce a ketone to an alcohol, simply because it is not a reducing agent like the other four—it is an oxidizing agent. The addition of oxygens to a ketone will not yield an alcohol (oxidation). The addition of hydrogen to a ketone will yield an alcohol (reduction). The other answer options are reducing agents that would facilitate this reaction.

Reduction involves gain of electrons whereas oxidation involves loss of electrons. In reduction, the oxidation number becomes more negative (due to gain of electrons) whereas in oxidation, the oxidation number becomes more positive. Sodium is an alkali metal, found on the first column of the periodic table. Every atom in this column has one valence electron; therefore, to complete its octet every alkali metal will lose an electron and will have an oxidation number of . It is very hard to oxidize and reduce these metals because of its desire to maintain octet; therefore, sodium can never be reduced or oxidized (it will always have an oxidation number of ).

Oxidation and reduction involve loss and gain of electrons, respectively. It does not involve loss or gain of protons. Recall that the identity of an atom is changed when the amount of protons change; therefore, it is very hard to change the amount of protons. Only few reactions (such as nuclear decay reactions) can change the number of protons and alter the identity of an atom.

is the only option that will not reduce a ketone to an alcohol, simply because it is not a reducing agent like the other four—it is an oxidizing agent. The addition of oxygens to a ketone will not yield an alcohol (oxidation). The addition of hydrogen to a ketone will yield an alcohol (reduction). The other answer options are reducing agents that would facilitate this reaction.

Reduction involves gain of electrons whereas oxidation involves loss of electrons. In reduction, the oxidation number becomes more negative (due to gain of electrons) whereas in oxidation, the oxidation number becomes more positive. Sodium is an alkali metal, found on the first column of the periodic table. Every atom in this column has one valence electron; therefore, to complete its octet every alkali metal will lose an electron and will have an oxidation number of . It is very hard to oxidize and reduce these metals because of its desire to maintain octet; therefore, sodium can never be reduced or oxidized (it will always have an oxidation number of ).

Oxidation and reduction involve loss and gain of electrons, respectively. It does not involve loss or gain of protons. Recall that the identity of an atom is changed when the amount of protons change; therefore, it is very hard to change the amount of protons. Only few reactions (such as nuclear decay reactions) can change the number of protons and alter the identity of an atom.