Water Oxidation
Water Oxidation - Related Videos
09:23
Removal of Trace Elements by Cupric Oxide Nanoparticles from Uranium In Situ Recovery Bleed Water and Its Effect on Cell Viability
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Cited by 6 •
2015
Production bleed water (PBW) was treated with cupric oxide nanoparticles (CuO-NPs) and cellular toxicity was assessed in cultured human cells. The goal of this protocol was to integrate the native environmental sample into a cell culture format assessing the changes in toxicity due to CuO-NP treatment.
03:14
Oxidation Numbers
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2020
In redox reactions, the transfer of electrons occurs between reacting species. Electron transfer is described by a hypothetical number called the oxidation number (or oxidation state). It represents the effective charge of an atom or element, which is assigned using a set of rules. Oxidation Number (Oxidation State) In the case of an ionic compound, oxidation numbers are assigned based on the number of electrons transferred between reacting species. For example, in the formation of calcium...
01:15
Pyruvate Oxidation
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2019
After glycolysis, the charged pyruvate molecules enter the mitochondria via active transport and undergo three enzymatic reactions. These reactions ensure that pyruvate can enter the next metabolic pathway so that energy stored in the pyruvate molecules can be harnessed by the cells. First, the enzyme pyruvate dehydrogenase removes the carboxyl group from pyruvate and releases it as carbon dioxide. The stripped molecule is then oxidized and releases electrons, which are then picked up by NAD+...
05:41
Photochemical Oxidative Growth of Iridium Oxide Nanoparticles on CdSe@CdS Nanorods
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Cited by 4 •
2016
A protocol for the photochemical oxidative growth of small crystalline iridium oxide nanoparticles on the surface of CdSe@CdS seeded rod nanoparticles is presented.
06:35
Implementation of a Hyperbolic Vortex Plasma Reactor for the Removal of Micropollutants in Water
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2025
This study presents the methodology for the generation of six different types of plasma discharges within a Hyperbolic Vortex Plasma Reactor for the degradation of micropollutants in water, including pharmaceuticals and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).
FAQs
The manganese-calcium oxygen-evolving complex accumulates four oxidizing equivalents before it can join two water molecules to form molecular oxygen. This staged accumulation links repeated light-driven charge separation to the chemistry required for O₂ production. It also explains why oxygen formation depends on coordinated cycles within photosystem II rather than on a single light-absorption event.
Photosystem II absorbs light and transfers electrons through its reaction center, leaving chlorophyll in an oxidized state. Electrons obtained from water oxidation replace those removed from chlorophyll, allowing the reaction center to continue participating in light-driven electron transfer. This coupling connects water as the electron source with the continuing operation of oxygenic photosynthesis.
The released electrons replenish photosystem II components after light-driven electron transfer, while the protons contribute to an electrochemical gradient. Thus, the reaction supports both continued electron movement and the gradient associated with photosynthetic energy conversion. Oxygen is the additional product, entering the atmosphere and helping sustain aerobic life.
The two components perform linked but different tasks. The photosystem II reaction center uses absorbed light to initiate electron transfer, whereas the manganese-calcium oxygen-evolving complex accumulates oxidizing equivalents and carries out the water-splitting chemistry. Their connection ensures that electrons removed from chlorophyll can be replaced while water is converted into oxygen and protons.
The sequence begins when photosystem II absorbs light and transfers electrons through its reaction center. The oxygen-evolving complex then accumulates four oxidizing equivalents, enabling two water molecules to produce molecular oxygen, protons, and electrons. Electrons return to replace those removed from chlorophyll, protons contribute to an electrochemical gradient, and oxygen is released to the atmosphere.
Plants, algae, and cyanobacteria use water oxidation within oxygenic photosynthesis. By supplying electrons that replace those removed from chlorophyll, the process supports solar-energy capture while releasing oxygen. Atmospheric oxygen from this activity sustains aerobic life, making the reaction important not only for the organisms that perform it but also for broader biological systems.
Biological water oxidation shows how a light-driven system can extract electrons from water while producing molecular oxygen and contributing to an electrochemical gradient. This combination provides a model for bio-inspired catalyst research aimed at renewable fuel production. Studying the photosystem II reaction and its oxygen-evolving complex helps connect biological energy conversion with catalyst design.