Oxidation and Reduction

Oxidation can be thought of as the loss of hydrogen or the gain of oxygen. Reduction can be thought of as the gain of hydrogen or loss of oxygen. When an alcohol is oxidized, it becomes a ketone or aldehyde. When a ketone or aldehyde is oxidized, it becomes a carboxylic acid. When an alkyne is reduced, it becomes an alkene, when an alkene is reduced, it becomes an alkane.