Oxidation & Reduction

Oxidation & Reduction Transformations

Master organic redox reactions — recognizing oxidation states, choosing the right reagent, and predicting products — with a dedicated one-on-one Ochem tutor.

Part of our complete Ochem Tutor program, alongside our full mechanisms tutoring.

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What We Cover

Oxidation states of carbon in organic functional groups
Alcohol oxidation (primary, secondary, tertiary)
Common oxidizing agents (PCC, Jones reagent, KMnO4)
Reduction of carbonyls (NaBH4, LiAlH4)
Catalytic hydrogenation of alkenes/alkynes
Common exam traps and how to avoid them

Common Struggles With Redox Reactions

I can't tell if a reaction is oxidation or reduction just by looking at it.

We teach a quick, reliable way to track oxidation state changes at the relevant carbon, so you can classify any reaction correctly without memorizing every specific case.

There are too many reagents (PCC, Jones, NaBH4, LiAlH4) to keep straight.

We group reagents by what they actually do — mild vs. strong oxidants, selective vs. non-selective reductants — so you remember them by function, not as an unconnected list.

I don't understand why NaBH4 and LiAlH4 behave differently.

We connect their reactivity difference to hydride donor strength, showing exactly which functional groups each one can and can't reduce.

Meet Your Tutor

Dr. R Ramajayam

Organic Chemistry Tutor

Doctorate in Organic/Medicinal Chemistry
Over 10,000 teaching sessions completed since 2007
Teaching experience at IIT and international universities, including Osaka University (Japan) and National Taiwan University
4.9/5 average student rating

Frequently Asked Questions

Track the number of C-H and C-O (or C-heteroatom) bonds at the relevant carbon. Gaining C-O bonds (or losing C-H bonds) is oxidation; gaining C-H bonds is reduction.

Ready to Master Redox Reactions?

Book a trial class and get oxidation and reduction reagent choice to click for good.

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