Determine if the following reaction represents an oxidation, reduction or neither.

• A. oxidation
• B. reduction
• C. neither

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Identify the functional groups in the reactant and product. The reactant contains a ketone group (C=O), while the product contains an alcohol group (C-OH).
2. Understand the concepts of oxidation and reduction in organic chemistry. Oxidation typically involves the addition of oxygen or the removal of hydrogen, while reduction involves the addition of hydrogen or the removal of oxygen.
3. Analyze the change in the functional group from the reactant to the product. The ketone group (C=O) is converted to an alcohol group (C-OH), which involves the addition of hydrogen atoms.
4. Determine if the addition of hydrogen atoms to the carbonyl carbon in the ketone group represents oxidation or reduction. The addition of hydrogen is characteristic of a reduction process.
5. Conclude that the reaction represents a reduction, as the ketone is reduced to an alcohol by the addition of hydrogen atoms.