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InterviewSolution
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Appreciate the role of nascent oxygen in the decolourising of coloured petals of flowers and vegetablematterCCE) |
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Answer» Nascent oxygen is a strong oxidizing agent, similar to bleach, which is sodium hypochlorite (the hypochlorite anion contains oxygen+chlorine). Nascent oxygen will react with large colored or dye molecules. Most such molecules have a large carbon chain or “chromophore” (e.g. beta-carotene). The length of this chromophore determines the color of the molecule. Nascent oxygen will oxidize the molecule and break up this chain into smaller molecules, so it can no longer absorb visible light. |
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