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Reduction:
The reduction process is merely the reverse of oxidation.
If two hydrogens are removed during oxidation, then two hydrogens
should be added during reduction. Carbonyl compounds act as the
oxidizing agent and hydrogen gas in the presence of a metal catalyst
is the reducing agent. Other reducing agents which give up hydrogen
may also be used in this reaction
The definitions which are used in inorganic chemistry involving
the gain or loss of electrons; or the increase or decrease in
oxidation numbers are not very useful in organic chemistry. In
organic chemistry, although changes in electrons are important,
oxidation and reduction is more readily observed from changes
in the number of hydrogen or oxygen atoms. The definitions are
as follows:
OXIDATION: loss of hydrogen, gain in oxygen, or loss
of electrons
REDUCTION: gain of hydrogen, loss of oxygen, or gain
of electrons.
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