Table of contents

1. A Review of General Chemistry5h 5m
2. Molecular Representations1h 14m
3. Acids and Bases2h 46m
4. Alkanes and Cycloalkanes4h 17m
5. Chirality3h 39m
6. Thermodynamics and Kinetics1h 22m
7. Substitution Reactions1h 48m
8. Elimination Reactions2h 30m
9. Alkenes and Alkynes2h 9m
10. Addition Reactions3h 19m
11. Radical Reactions1h 58m
12. Alcohols, Ethers, Epoxides and Thiols2h 42m
13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds2h 17m
14. Synthetic Techniques1h 26m
15. Analytical Techniques:IR, NMR, Mass Spect7h 3m
16. Conjugated Systems6h 13m
17. Ultraviolet Spectroscopy51m
18. Aromaticity2h 34m
19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond5h 1m
20. Phenols55m
21. Aldehydes and Ketones: Nucleophilic Addition4h 56m
22. Carboxylic Acid Derivatives: NAS2h 51m
23. The Chemistry of Thioesters, Phophate Ester and Phosphate Anhydrides1h 10m
24. Enolate Chemistry: Reactions at the Alpha-Carbon1h 53m
25. Condensation Chemistry2h 9m
26. Amines1h 43m
27. Heterocycles2h 0m
28. Carbohydrates5h 53m
29. Amino Acids4h 20m
30. Peptides and Proteins2h 42m
31. Catalysis in Organic Reactions1h 30m
32. Lipids 2h 50m
33. The Organic Chemistry of Metabolic Pathways2h 52m
34. Nucleic Acids1h 32m
35. Transition Metals6h 14m
36. Synthetic Polymers1h 49m

19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond

Side-Chain Oxidation

Organic Chemistry

19. Reactions of Aromatics: EAS and Beyond

Side-Chain Oxidation

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3:12 minutes

Problem 40

Textbook Question

The bombardier beetle defends itself by spraying a hot quinone solution from its abdomen. This solution is formed by the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation of hydroquinone by hydrogen peroxide. Write a balanced equation for this oxidation.

Verified step by step guidance

Identify the reactants and products in the reaction. The reactants are hydroquinone (C₆H₄(OH)₂) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the product is quinone (C₆H₄O₂). Water (H₂O) is also formed as a byproduct.

Write the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction: C₆H₄(OH)₂ + H₂O₂ → C₆H₄O₂ + H₂O.

Balance the carbon atoms. Since the number of carbon atoms is already equal on both sides of the equation, no changes are needed here.

Balance the hydrogen atoms. Hydroquinone has 4 hydrogen atoms, and hydrogen peroxide has 2 hydrogen atoms, while quinone has 2 hydrogen atoms and water has 2 hydrogen atoms. The hydrogen atoms are already balanced in this case.

Balance the oxygen atoms. There are 4 oxygen atoms on the reactant side (2 from hydroquinone and 2 from hydrogen peroxide) and 4 oxygen atoms on the product side (2 from quinone and 2 from water). The oxygen atoms are balanced, so the equation is complete.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Enzyme-Catalyzed Reactions

Enzyme-catalyzed reactions involve biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions without being consumed in the process. In the case of the bombardier beetle, enzymes facilitate the oxidation of hydroquinone, allowing the reaction to occur more efficiently at physiological temperatures. Understanding how enzymes work, including their specificity and the role of active sites, is crucial for writing balanced chemical equations.

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions

Oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions involve the transfer of electrons between substances, leading to changes in oxidation states. In the oxidation of hydroquinone, hydroquinone loses electrons (is oxidized) while hydrogen peroxide acts as the oxidizing agent. Recognizing the roles of oxidizing and reducing agents is essential for balancing chemical equations and understanding the underlying chemistry.

Balanced Chemical Equations

A balanced chemical equation represents a chemical reaction with equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. Balancing involves adjusting coefficients to ensure mass conservation. For the oxidation of hydroquinone by hydrogen peroxide, it is important to identify the products formed and ensure that the equation adheres to the law of conservation of mass, which is fundamental in chemistry.

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