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

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

Organic Chemistry

13. Alcohols and Carbonyl Compounds

Oxidizing and Reducing Agents

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2:24 minutes

Problem 2a

Textbook Question

Identify the following reactions as oxidation or reduction (based on what happens to the organic molecule).
(a)

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Analyze the starting material and the product. The starting material contains a double bond in the cyclohexane ring, while the product has a fully saturated cyclohexane ring without any double bonds.

Step 2: Recognize the reaction conditions. The reaction involves hydrogen gas (H₂) and a palladium catalyst (Pd/C), which is a typical setup for catalytic hydrogenation.

Step 3: Understand the process of catalytic hydrogenation. In this reaction, hydrogen atoms are added across the double bond, converting the unsaturated compound (with a double bond) into a saturated compound (without a double bond).

Step 4: Determine whether the reaction is oxidation or reduction. Reduction involves the gain of hydrogen atoms or the loss of oxygen atoms. Since hydrogen is added to the molecule, this reaction is classified as a reduction.

Step 5: Conclude that the organic molecule undergoes a reduction in this reaction, as the double bond is reduced to a single bond through the addition of hydrogen.

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Key Concepts

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

Oxidation and Reduction

In organic chemistry, oxidation refers to the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, while reduction involves the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state. These processes often involve the addition or removal of specific atoms or groups, such as oxygen or hydrogen, to or from a molecule.

Hydrogenation

Hydrogenation is a specific type of reduction reaction where hydrogen (H2) is added to an unsaturated compound, such as an alkene or alkyne, converting it into a saturated compound. This process typically requires a catalyst, such as palladium on carbon (Pd/C), to facilitate the reaction and lower the activation energy.

Catalysts in Organic Reactions

Catalysts are substances that increase the rate of a chemical reaction without being consumed in the process. In the context of hydrogenation, catalysts like Pd/C provide a surface for the reaction to occur, allowing hydrogen to effectively add to the double bond of the alkene, thus promoting the reduction of the molecule.

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