Biological electron transfer, basic principles

This reaction is a particularly clear example of electron transfer. It will be useful to keep these basic principles in mind when we examine the flow of electrons in the more complex redox reactions of aerobic metabolism. In many of the biological redox reactions we will encounter, the oxidation state of a carbon atom changes. Figure 15.2 shows the changes that occur as carbon in its most reduced form (an alkane) becomes oxidized to an alcohol, an aldehyde, a carboxylic acid, and ultimately carbon dioxide. Each of these oxidations requires the loss of two electrons. 

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