redutseeruma

Redutseeruma is a process by which a chemical compound gains electrons. This gain of electrons results in a decrease in the oxidation state of the atom or ion that is being reduced. Reduction is always accompanied by oxidation, where another chemical species loses electrons. This coupled process is known as a redox reaction.

In organic chemistry, reduction often involves the addition of hydrogen atoms or the removal of oxygen atoms from a molecule. For example, aldehydes and ketones can be reduced to alcohols. The presence of a reducing agent, a substance that readily donates electrons, is necessary for reduction to occur. Common reducing agents include hydrogen gas with a metal catalyst, alkali metals, and metal hydrides like lithium aluminum hydride and sodium borohydride.

In inorganic chemistry, reduction is frequently seen in the context of metal extraction and purification. For instance, metal oxides can be reduced to their elemental form by heating them with a more reactive element or a reducing agent like carbon. Electrolytic reduction is another important method, where an electric current is used to drive the reduction process, often used in the production of highly reactive metals like aluminum and sodium. The concept of reduction is fundamental to understanding many chemical transformations and is applied across various scientific disciplines.