During oxidation with metals where are the free radicals? On the metal or in the oxygen? And if the free radicals are on the metal are the free radicals taking on properties of the air to form rust on the surface of the metal? What is happening? This is for a report in my science class. Thanks.
2007-11-22 12:35:15 · 3 answers · asked by theamazingcoakley 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
a simple, general explanation please.
2007-11-22 12:55:15 · update #1
Much biological energy is stored and released by means of redox reactions. Photosynthesis involves the reduction of carbon dioxide into sugars and the oxidation of water into molecular oxygen. The reverse reaction, respiration, oxidizes sugars to produce carbon dioxide and water. As intermediate steps, the reduced carbon compounds are used to reduce nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+), which then contributes to the creation of a proton gradient, which drives the synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and is maintained by the reduction of oxygen. In animal cells, mitochondria perform similar functions.
A wide variety of aromatic compounds are enzymatically reduced to form free radicals that contain one more electron than their parent compounds. In general, the electron donor is any of a wide variety of flavoenzymes and their coenzymes. Once formed, these anion free radicals reduce molecular oxygen to superoxide and regenerate the unchanged parent compound. The net reaction is the oxidation of the flavoenzyme's coenzymes and the reduction of molecular oxygen to form superoxide. This catalytic behavior has been described as futile cycle or redox cycling.
Examples of redox cycling-inducing molecules are the herbicide paraquat and other viologens and quinones such as menadione.
Hopefuly this helps!!
2007-11-22 12:39:58 · answer #1 · answered by HotterthanU 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your questions suggest that you believe there are "free radicals" involved. Also, you seem to be mixed up with "oxidation" meaning the reaction of a metal with oxygen with "oxidation" meaning a reaction where the oxidation number of the metal increases (which includes oxygen oxidation). Either way, you are getting into the mechanism for oxidation. So which are you really interested in?
2007-11-22 12:57:30 · answer #2 · answered by cattbarf 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
man i cant help you with oxidation, i'm a little rusty.
2007-11-22 12:56:27 · answer #3 · answered by the Bruja is back 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋