FORESTRY UPDATE by Gary Allen Burns 12-22

Chemical reactions occur in plants transferring energy in chemical bonds to other newly formed chemical bonds. In many reactions, electrons pass to create oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions. Oxygen attracts electrons and the loss of an electron is called oxidation. Conversely, the gain of an electron is called reduction.

In biological reactions, the electron is often accompanied by a proton, a hydrogen atom. When glucose is oxidized in cellular respiration, carbon dioxide, water and energy are produced. The energy released is stored to be released later as the cell needs it.