Question

1)

a) Rank the following compounds from least to most reduced:

____ alcohols

____ ketones

____ alkanes

____ carboxylic acids

b) Rank the following biomolecules from least to most reduced:

____ amino acids/ proteins

____ lipids

____ nucleosides

____ carbohydrates

Answer 1

Reduction involves the gain of hydrogen. This ocurs by replacing the carbon-oxygen bond with carbon-hydrogen bond, therefore, the molecule with maximum hydrogen atoms will be most reduced one.

a) least to most reduced-

1. carboxylic acid RCOOH

2. ketones RCOR

3. alcohols RCH₂OH

4. alkanes R-H

b) least to most reduced-

1. nucleosides

2. carbohydrates

3. proteins/amino acids

4. lipids