Question

H₂O₂ may be neutralized by reduced glutathione (an antioxidant). In the process, reduced glutathione is oxidized to form oxidized glutathione. What is the role of reduced glutathione in neutralizing H₂O₂?

1) It acts as a reducing agent
2) It acts as an oxidizing agent
3) It acts as a catalyst
4) It acts as a solvent

Answer 1

Reduced glutathione acts as a reducing agent, donating electrons to H₂O₂ and transforming it into water, while it itself becomes oxidized glutathione.

Step-by-step explanation:

The role of reduced glutathione in neutralizing H₂O₂ is that it acts as a reducing agent. In this reaction, reduced glutathione donates electrons to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), reducing it to water (H₂O). As this happens, glutathione itself is oxidized to form oxidized glutathione.

This is a typical redox reaction where reduced glutathione is allowing another substance (H₂O₂) to gain electrons, making reduced glutathione a reducing agent.

Common reducing agents include hydrogen, carbon, and antioxidants like ascorbic acid and vitamin E, which help protect cells from damage by neutralizing harmful substances such as H₂O₂. The process of oxidation for these agents usually involves the transformation of these molecules into different compounds as they undergo a loss of electrons, as evidenced by reduced glutathione becoming oxidized glutathione.