[General] oxidation process

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maiabulela

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Dear all,

I think that this sentence is a very contradictory one. After the chef cut out the meat of the avocado.. he says:

"AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AN ENZYME CALLED PHENOLOXIDASE IS INTRODUCING ANOTHER CHEMICAL INSIDE THE FLESH, A VALUABLE ANTIOXIDANT IN THE PHENOL FAMILY TO OXYGEN. THE OXIDATION OF THE PHENOLS WILL RESULT IN A VERY RAPID BROWNING.

there is an enzyme called "phenoloxidase" that is , as far as I understand, is inside the avocado meat. That enzyme, after cutting the avocado, is now producing another chemical which is antioxidant (what is the meaninf of "in the phenol family to oxygen"?) and how it's antioxidant and then will oxidate causing the meat to brown?

:-:)-?
 
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e2e4

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"AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AN ENZYME CALLED PHENOLOXIDASE IS INTRODUCING ANOTHER CHEMICAL INSIDE THE FLESH, A VALUABLE ANTIOXIDANT IN THE PHENOL FAMILY, TO OXYGEN. THE OXIDATION OF THE PHENOLS WILL RESULT IN A VERY RAPID BROWNING.
 
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Rover_KE

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(what is the meaning of "in the phenol family to oxygen"?)

You cannot consider these six words in isolation. The bare sentence would be 'An enzyme is introducing another chemical to oxygen.'

Avocados have flesh - not meat.

I can't answer your second question.

Rover
 

maiabulela

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You cannot consider these six words in isolation. The bare sentence would be 'An enzyme is introducing another chemical to oxygen.'

Avocados have flesh - not meat.

I can't answer your second question.

Rover


That would mean "introducing an antioxidant chemical to oxygen" What does that mean?
Because I got, at first, that the enzyme will introduce an substance to oxyxen (meaning that it will be oxidated) but then he said that it's anti oxidant!
 

SoothingDave

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That would mean "introducing an antioxidant chemical to oxygen" What does that mean?
Because I got, at first, that the enzyme will introduce an substance to oxyxen (meaning that it will be oxidated) but then he said that it's anti oxidant!

When you cut it open, it is exposed to the air. It reacts with the oxygen in the air. That is how it is "introduced to oxygen."
 

maiabulela

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When you cut it open, it is exposed to the air. It reacts with the oxygen in the air. That is how it is "introduced to oxygen."

it makes some sense now. Still How an antioxidant, when exposed to air, gets oxidated??!!!
 

SoothingDave

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Sorry, I'm not a chemist.
 

maiabulela

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Sorry, I'm not a chemist.


Thanks. That's what I want. I mean that this is the meaning of the sentence.. I got it right, even if it's not logical, right??? I mean coz you are a native speaker, do you get it as I get it regardless of the explanation?? If so, I will translate it as it's regardless the meaning coz I'm not chemist, too! What do you think?

Thanks.
 

e2e4

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Thanks. That's what I want. I mean that this is the meaning of the sentence.. I got it right, even if it's not logical, right??? I mean coz you are a native speaker, do you get it as I get it regardless of the explanation?? If so, I will translate it as it's regardless the meaning coz I'm not chemist, too! What do you think?

Thanks.

Many organic and non-organic substances oxidise when exposed to air. They enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide.

Ferrum oxidizes easily

Fe + O2 ---->FeO2
 

maiabulela

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Many organic and non-organic substances oxidise when exposed to air. They enter into a combination with oxygen or become converted into an oxide.

Ferrum oxidizes easily

Fe + O2 ---->FeO2

Then, can an antioxidant substanse oxidizes when exposed to air? (I think that's what he said. but it doesn't make sense to me!):-|
 

Rover_KE

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... I will translate it as it is regardless of the meaning because I'm not chemist, either! What do you think?

Thanks.

I agree with you. You are a translator - not a copy-editor.

Rover
 

e2e4

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"AT THIS VERY MOMENT,
AN ENZYME CALLED PHENOLOXIDASE IS INTRODUCING ANOTHER CHEMICAL INSIDE THE FLESH, A VALUABLE ANTIOXIDANT IN THE PHENOL FAMILY, TO OXYGEN. THE OXIDATION OF THE PHENOLS WILL RESULT IN A VERY RAPID BROWNING.

... I will translate it as it is regardless of the meaning because I'm not a chemist, either! What do you think? Do wee need "a" with the chemist?

The phenoloxidases are widely spread in fruit. As a catalisator they are involved in many biological processes. They initiate synthesis of melanin which is, according to chemists, pretty much responsible for browning the fruit's mesocarp when exposed to oxygen.
Maybe he was thinking of melanin when he said that the phenoloxidase introduced another chemical. Melanin has some antioxidant properties and could be that valuable antioxidant in the phenol family.







 

maiabulela

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"AT THIS VERY MOMENT, AN ENZYME CALLED PHENOLOXIDASE IS INTRODUCING ANOTHER CHEMICAL INSIDE THE FLESH, A VALUABLE ANTIOXIDANT IN THE PHENOL FAMILY, TO OXYGEN. THE OXIDATION OF THE PHENOLS WILL RESULT IN A VERY RAPID BROWNING.

... I will translate it as it is regardless of the meaning because I'm not a chemist, either! What do you think? Do wee need "a" with the chemist?

The phenoloxidases are widely spread in fruit. As a catalisator they are involved in many biological processes. They initiate synthesis of melanin which is, according to chemists, pretty much responsible for browning the fruit's mesocarp when exposed to oxygen.
Maybe he was thinking of melanin when he said that the phenoloxidase introduced another chemical. Melanin has some antioxidant properties and could be that valuable antioxidant in the phenol family.

That's what I need to understand. If melanin has some antioxidant properties, how can it be responsible for browning the fruit (It's supposed to protect it from that)!
Thanks a lot for trying to help. but I can't lie and say that i fully understand unless I feel that I have really got it. :roll:
 

e2e4

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That's what I need to understand. If melanin has some antioxidant properties, how can it be responsible for browning the fruit (It's supposed to protect it from that)!
Thanks a lot for trying to help. but I can't lie and say that i fully understand unless I feel that I have really got it. :roll:
Melanin doesn't initiate browning of the mesocarp if not exposed to oxygen by itself and does when exposed.
Under the different conditions for melanin, melanin reacts different.

Think of this

Someone wants to poison people in a country in order to decrease the population.
That someone, develop different kinds of genetically modified food.
That someone, produce a vaccine that contains the enzymes needed to introduce a poison when get into chemical reaction with the particular genetically modified food, mentioned.
Those who haven't gotten the vaccine can eat the food but some that got vaccine will die.

We are already given two types of mushroom by someone, aren't we.
Those guys, mentioned above, like to feel the same way and they think that they have the right to do it because they know how to do it.
 
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maiabulela

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yes. So that antioxidant chemical substance when the fruit is exposed to oxygen, though it's antioxidant, it will cause browning. I got it

(but then why in the first place, it's antioxidant. Antioxidant is supposed to be exposed to oxygen but STILL... no browning.

I really really like your example, that's why I asked my question because I think may I missed something because actually that's what's in my head. SO PLEASE, correct anything wrong in my very first sentence that I ended wit "I got it" may be I got wrong.

Thanks a lot.:roll:
 

Jaskin

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hi
Please note I'm not a teacher nor a native speaker nor a chemist, ;-)


An antioxidant is a molecule capable of slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules.

It doesn't mean that the antioxidant doesn't oxidise itself, in fact they slowing or preventing the oxidation of other molecules by being oxidized themselves.

Cheers
 
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