| oxidation | <biochemistry> The process whereby fatty acids are degraded in steps, losing 2 carbons as (acetyl) CoA. Involves CoA ester formation, desaturation, hydroxylation and oxidation before each cleavage. (18 Nov 1997) |
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| oxidation-fermentation test | <investigation> A test to to determine whether a given bacterial strain has an oxidative or fermentativetype of metabolism by seeing what it doesto a carbohydrate substrate. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation number | The number of electrons necessary to restore an atom in a combined state to its elemental form. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation pond | A pond that contains partially treated wastewater which is then left to allow the growth of algae and bacteria which decompose therest of the waste. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation-reduction | A chemical reaction in which an electron is transferred from one molecule to another. The electron-donating molecule is the reducing agent or reductant; the electron-accepting molecule is the oxidizing agent or oxidant. Reducing and oxidizing agents function as conjugate reductant-oxidant pairs or redox pairs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| oxidation-reduction electrode | An electrode capable of measuring oxidation-reduction potential. See: quinhydrone electrode. Synonym: redox electrode. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxidation-reduction indicator | A substance that undergoes a definite colour change at a specific oxidation potential. Synonym: redox indicator. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxidation-reduction potential | <chemistry, physics> The potential in volts of an inert metallic electrode measured in a system of an arbitrarily chosen ratio of [oxidant] to [reductant] and referred to the normal hydrogen electrode at absolute temperature. It is calculated from the following equation: where R is the gas constant expressed in electrical units, T the absolute temperature (Kelvin), n the number of electrons transferred, F the faraday and E0 the normal symbol for the potential of the system at pH 0; for biological systems E0' is often used (in which pH = 7). Compare: Nernst's equation. Synonym: redox potential. (05 Mar 2000) |
| oxidation-reduction reaction | <chemistry> Any reaction in which electrons are removed from one molecule or atom and given to another molecule or atom. (09 Oct 1997) |
| oxidation-reduction system | <enzyme> An enzyme system in the tissues by which oxidation and reduction proceed simultaneously through the transference of hydrogen or of one or more electrons from one metabolite to another. See: oxidation-reduction. Synonym: redox system. (05 Mar 2000) |
| terminal oxidation | <biochemistry> The last oxidation step in a catabolic pathway. Synonym: terminal oxidation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| end oxidation | <biochemistry> The last oxidation step in a catabolic pathway. Synonym: terminal oxidation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anovulatory cycle | A sexual cycle in which no ovum is discharged. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Born-Haber cycle | <physics> This is a mathematical description of the relationship between the electron affinity, heats of atomisation, ionisation energy and lattice energy of ionic compounds. (09 Oct 1997) |
| bottoming cycle | A cogeneration system in which steam is used first for process heat and then for electric power production. (05 Dec 1998) |