Page 11 - Geometry

3. Elimination Elimination reactions involve the removal of a small component of a large molecule. For example, in the presence of concentrated sulfuric acid, alcohol can be dehydrated by eliminating a water molecule from it. 4. Oxidation There are several definitions associated with the oxidation reaction. In context with organic chemistry, it can be seen in terms of the addition of oxygen atoms and the removal of hydrogen atoms. The conversion of ethanol into ethanoic acid, in the presence of an oxidizing agent, is an example of oxidation. We can see from the equation that on the reactant side, ethanol had only 1 oxygen and 6 hydrogen atoms, whereas on the product side, it has 2 oxygen atoms and 4 hydrogen atoms. 5. Reduction A simple way to describe reduction is to say it is the opposite of oxidation. In reduction reactions, reactants gain hydrogen and lose oxygen. For example, ketone is reduced by the addition of hydrogen atoms in the presence of sodium tetrahydridoborate. 6. Hydrolysis Hydrolysis reaction involves the breaking of a molecule using water. For example, halogenoalkanes are converted to alcohol through hydrolysis. Page 10 of 20 Study Guide for Organic Chemistry