Race Omaha is a non-profit 501c3 organization whose mission is to provide opportunities for all ages and abilities to participate in events that promote active and healthy lifestyles. All of our events are sanctioned by the USA Triathlon. The USAT is the sanctioning authority for more than 4,300 events across the nation.
In chemistry, metathesis is used to describe reactions that interchange atoms or groups of atoms between molecules. When at least one atom undergoes a change in oxidation state, the reaction is an oxidation-reduction reaction.
If one atom or molecule is giving electrons, another must be taking (or sharing). That's why the common term is redox reactions. An oxidation reaction occurs when the chemical change of an atom or molecule is accompanied by a net loss of electrons. A reduction reaction is the opposite - a net gain of electrons. Since electrons, like atoms, are not created or destroyed in chemical reactions, an reduction reaction cannot occur without a source of electrons - which is the oxidation reaction. An oxidation reaction cannot occur without a reduction reaction because free electrons are highly reactive will attach themselves to the nearest atom/molecule, effecting reduction.