Question

question 1
which of the following is a reduced molecule?
glucose
carbon dioxide
oxygen
question 2
in this reaction, sucrase is a:

enzyme
product
reactant

Explanation:

Question 1

• Glucose: It is a carbohydrate. In terms of redox reactions, glucose has a relatively lower oxidation state (more hydrogen atoms bonded to carbon compared to highly oxidized molecules like carbon dioxide). Carbon in glucose has a lower average oxidation state (less oxidized, more reduced) compared to carbon in \(CO_2\) (where carbon has a \(+ 4\) oxidation state).
• Carbon dioxide (\(CO_2\)): Carbon has an oxidation state of \(+4\), which is a highly oxidized state.
• Oxygen (\(O_2\)): In its elemental form, oxygen has an oxidation state of \(0\). But when we talk about reduced molecules in the context of biological or general redox (where reduction often involves gain of hydrogen or electrons in a more complex sense related to biological energy - transfer molecules), \(O_2\) is more often an oxidizing agent rather than a reduced molecule.

• Enzyme: Enzymes are biological catalysts. In the reaction shown, sucrase is facilitating the hydrolysis of sucrose (the reactant with the oxygen - bridge between two sugar - like structures) into its component monosaccharides. Enzymes bind to substrates (reactants), lower the activation energy of the reaction, and are not consumed in the chemical reaction (they can be reused).
• Product: Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction. In this case, the monosaccharides (the two molecules with \( - OH\) groups) are the products.
• Reactant: The reactants are the starting substances of a chemical reaction. Here, the sucrose (the molecule with the oxygen - bridge) and water (\(H_2O\)) are the reactants.

Answer:

glucose

Question 2