Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation refers to the loss of electrons or an increase in oxidation state, while reduction is the gain of electrons or a decrease in oxidation state. In organic chemistry, these processes often involve the addition or removal of oxygen or hydrogen atoms. Understanding these definitions is crucial for classifying reactions correctly.
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Distinguishing between Oxidation and Reduction
Electrophilic Addition Reactions
Electrophilic addition reactions occur when an electrophile reacts with a nucleophile, typically involving alkenes or alkynes. In the context of the provided reactions, the addition of HBr to an alkene in reaction A illustrates this concept, where the double bond is broken and new bonds are formed with the electrophile and nucleophile.
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Features of Addition Mechanisms.
Hydrogenation
Hydrogenation is a specific type of reduction reaction where hydrogen (H2) is added to a compound, often in the presence of a catalyst like platinum (Pt). In reaction B, the conversion of an alkene to an alkane through hydrogenation exemplifies this process, highlighting the reduction of the carbon-carbon double bond.
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