Oxidation and Reduction in Organic Chemistry

Reduction Increases electron density on carbon by forming this C-II 

Based on these definitions, the chlorination reaction of methane to yield chloromethane is an oxidation because a C-H bond is broken and a C-Cl bond is formed. The conversion of an alkyl chloride to an alkane via a Grig-nard reagent followed by protonation is a reduction, however, because a C-Cl bond is broken and a C-H bond is formed. 

As still other examples, the reaction of an alkene with Br2 to yield a 1,2-dibromide is an oxidation because two C—Br bonds are formed, but the 

Oxidation Two new bonds formed between carbon and a more electronegative element 

Oxidation Decreases electron density on carbon by forming one of these C-O, C-N, C-X or breaking this C-H 

Based on these definitions, the chlorination reaction of methane to yield chloromethane is an oxidation because a C-H bond is broken and a C—Cl bond 

As other examples, the reaction of an alkene with Br2 to yield a 1,2-dibro-mide is an oxidation because two C-Br bonds are formed, but the reaction of an alkene with HBr to yield an alkyl bromide is neither an oxidation nor a reduction because both a C-H and a C—Br bond are formed. 

Neither oxidation nor reduction One new C-H bond and one new C-Br bond formed 

Worked Example 10.2 shows how to compare the oxidation levels of different compounds with the same number of carbon atoms. 

Rank the following compounds in order of increasing oxidation level  

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