Final Answer:
To quench hydroxyl radicals, one can employ antioxidants such as vitamin C or E. These antioxidants donate electrons to the hydroxyl radicals, neutralizing them and preventing further oxidative damage.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hydroxyl radicals (( text{OH}cdot )) are highly reactive species formed during various chemical and biological processes. They possess an unpaired electron, making them extremely reactive and capable of causing damage to biological molecules. To quench hydroxyl radicals, antioxidants can be employed. Antioxidants like vitamin C (( text{C}6text{H}8text{O}6 )) or vitamin E (( text{C}2text{H}50text{O}2 )) act as electron donors. In the presence of hydroxyl radicals, these antioxidants donate electrons, neutralizing the radicals and forming stable molecules.
The process can be represented as follows:
[ text{OH}cdot + text{Vitamin C} rightarrow text{Stable Molecule} ]
[ text{OH}cdot + text{Vitamin E} rightarrowtext{Stable Molecule} ]
This electron donation effectively terminates the chain reactions initiated by hydroxyl radicals, preventing further damage to cellular components. The antioxidants themselves become radicals in the process but are relatively stable compared to hydroxyl radicals. This ability to donate electrons and neutralize highly reactive radicals makes antioxidants an effective means to quench hydroxyl radicals and mitigate oxidative stress. Incorporating such antioxidants into the diet or utilizing them in pharmaceutical formulations can contribute to maintaining cellular health by combating the detrimental effects of hydroxyl radicals.