Answer to Question #196156 in Organic Chemistry for Tasnim Tabassum

Question

which of the following compound represent the most oxidized and most reduced class of organic and explain why?

Answer 1

CO2

The most reduced form of carbon is CH4, the most oxidized is CO2. Thus the oxidation state of a one-carbon fragment is unambiguous and defined by the number of C-H bonds that have been replaced by C-X bonds, where X = any electronegative element.