Hapettumisia

Hapettumisia is the plural of hapettuminen, the Finnish word for oxidation. Oxidation is a chemical process in which a substance loses electrons or increases its oxidation state, often, but not exclusively, involving oxygen. In everyday contexts, hapettumiset include metal corrosion, combustion, and the deterioration of fats and polymers.

Mechanisms of hapettumiset can be autoxidation (oxygen-driven without enzymes), photooxidation (driven by light), or enzymatic oxidation (catalyzed by enzymes in living systems). Many reactions proceed via radical chain mechanisms, with initiation, propagation, and termination steps. Reactive oxygen species can initiate or propagate damage to lipids, proteins, and DNA.

Applications and implications of hapettumiset are diverse. In materials science, they cause rust, tarnish, color changes, and loss of mechanical properties. In food science, lipid oxidation leads to rancidity; several indicators, such as peroxide value, are used to assess quality. In biology and medicine, oxidative processes are linked to aging and various diseases; cells counteract them with antioxidants and protective enzymes.

Prevention and control strategies include limiting exposure to heat, light, and moisture; adding antioxidants or stabilizers; using protective coatings or inhibitors; and minimizing catalytic surfaces. Etymology notes that hapettuminen derives from happi, Finnish for oxygen, with the suffix forming the concept of oxidation processes.

See also: oxidation, corrosion, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, antioxidants.