Massachusetts Wastewater Practice Exam

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Is it true that oxidation-reduction reactions require oxygen?

True.
False.
Only in specific conditions.
True for all reactions.

The correct answer is: False.

Oxidation-reduction reactions, or redox reactions, do not inherently require oxygen to occur. These reactions involve the transfer of electrons between substances, with one substance getting oxidized (losing electrons) and another getting reduced (gaining electrons). While many redox reactions in biological and environmental processes do involve oxygen, such as cellular respiration, there are numerous examples of redox reactions that occur in the absence of oxygen. For instance, anaerobic bacteria can perform redox reactions using other electron acceptors, such as nitrate or sulfate, instead of oxygen. Additionally, many metal ion reactions do not involve oxygen and are still classified as redox processes. Thus, it is accurate to state that oxidation-reduction reactions can take place without the presence of oxygen, making the statement false.