Electron transferElectron transfer (ET) occurs when an electron relocates from an atom, ion, or molecule, to another such chemical entity. ET describes the mechanism by which electrons are transferred in redox reactions. Electrochemical processes are ET reactions. ET reactions are relevant to photosynthesis and respiration and commonly involve transition metal complexes. In organic chemistry ET is a step in some industrial polymerization reactions. It is foundational to photoredox catalysis.
Chemical reactionProcess that leads to chemical changesA thermite reaction using iron(III) oxide. The sparks flying outwards are globules of molten iron trailing smoke in their wake.A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to another. When chemical reactions occur, the atoms are rearranged and the reaction is accompanied by an energy change as new products are generated.
RustRust is an iron oxide, a usually reddish-brown oxide formed by the reaction of iron and oxygen in the catalytic presence of water or air moisture. Rust consists of hydrous iron(III) oxides (Fe2O3·nH2O) and iron(III) oxide-hydroxide (FeO(OH), Fe(OH)3), and is typically associated with the corrosion of refined iron. Given sufficient time, any iron mass in the presence of water and oxygen will form rust and could eventually convert entirely to rust.
Cellular respirationCellular respiration is the process of oxidizing biological fuels using an inorganic electron acceptor, such as oxygen, to drive production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which stores chemical energy in a biologically accessible form.Oxidation stateIn chemistry, the oxidation state, or oxidation number, is the hypothetical charge of an atom assuming all of its bonds to other atoms are fully ionic. It describes the degree of oxidation (loss of electrons) of an atom in a chemical compound. Conceptually, the oxidation state may be positive, negative or zero. In a binary compound like KCl, oxidation state of +1 for K implies it has donated an electron Cl, which will have an oxidation state of -1.
CombustionCombustion, or burning, is a high-temperature exothermicredoxchemical reaction between a fuel (the reductant) and an oxidant, usually atmospheric oxygen, that produces oxidized, often gaseous products, in a mixture termed as smoke. Combustion does not always result in fire, because a flame is only visible when substances undergoing combustion vaporize, but when it does, a flame is a characteristic indicator of the reaction.
ElectronThe electron (e, or β in nuclear reactions) is a subatomic particle whose electric charge is negative one elementary charge. It is an elementary particle contained in the matter that makes up the universe. All atoms are composed of electrons, as well as varying numbers protons and neutrons, but the electrons have almost 2,000 times less mass than the other two constituents.
PhotosynthesisPhotosynthesis is a system of biological processes by which photopigment-bearing autotrophic organisms, such as most plants, algae and cyanobacteria, convert light energy—typically from sunlight—into the chemical energy necessary to fuel their metabolism. The term photosynthesis usually refers to oxygenic photosynthesis, a process that releases oxygen as a byproduct of water splitting.
IronChemical element with atomic number 26 (Fe)–↑Fe↓Rumanganese ← iron → cobalt
Substrate (chemistry)In chemistry, the term substrate is highly context-dependent. Broadly speaking, it can refer either to a chemical species being observed in a chemical reaction, or to a surface on which other chemical reactions or microscopy are performed. In biochemistry, an enzyme substrate is the molecule upon which an enzyme acts. In synthetic and organic chemistry a substrate is the chemical of interest that is being modified.
OxideAn oxide () is a chemical compound containing at least one oxygen atom and one other element in its chemical formula. "Oxide" itself is the dianion (anion bearing a net charge of −2) of oxygen, an O2− ion with in the oxidation state of −2. Most of the Earth's crust consists of oxides. Even materials considered pure elements often develop an oxide coating.
ReagentIn chemistry, a reagent ( ) or analytical reagent is a substance or compound added to a system to cause a chemical reaction, or test if one occurs. A reactant is a substance or compound that is consumed in a chemical reaction.*As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.