Oxidation and reduction reactions are essential to life. Oxidation of nutrients provides plants and animals with the energy they need to survive. When an organism dies, oxidation reactions are responsible for the decay of the organic matter. Oxidation reactions are also used by chemists to synthesize pharmaceuticals, textiles, dyes, paints and a multitude of other important products.Oxygen is third on the list of bulk chemicals produced per year in the United States.

One of the most challenging questions about the origin of life on Earth is how early organisms protected themselves from oxygen in the atmosphere. All organic matter exposed to oxygen tends to be converted into carbon dioxide and water, and most minerals are oxidized forms of elements. Avoiding oxidation of materials is of practical concern as well: metals are painted or lubricated to inhibit oxidative corrosion and wood products are coated to prevent the oxidative...