definition of synthesis reaction in science

Synthesis Reaction Description Plus Examples

Two or more simple substances combine to form more complex products

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While there are many types of chemical reactions, they all fall into at least one of four broad categories: synthesis reactions, decomposition reactions, single displacement reactions, and double displacement reactions.

A synthesis reaction or direct combination reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which two or more simple substances combine to form a more complex product. The reactants may be elements or compounds, while the product is always a compound.

General Form of Synthesis Reactions

The general form of a synthesis reaction is:

A + B → AB

Examples of Synthesis Reactions

Here are some examples of synthesis reactions:

• Water: 2 H 2 (g) + O 2 (g) → 2 H 2 O(g)
• Carbon dioxide: 2 CO(g) + O 2 (g) → 2CO 2 (g)
• Ammonia: 3 H 2 (g) + N 2 (g) → 2 NH 3 (g)
• Aluminum oxide: 4 Al(s) + 3 O 2 (g) → 2 Al 2 O 3 (s)
• Iron sulfide: 8 Fe + S 8 → 8 FeS
• Potassium chloride: 2 K(s) + Cl 2 (g) → 2 KCl(s)

Recognizing Synthesis Reactions

The hallmark of a synthesis reaction is that a more complex product is formed from the reactants. One easy-to-recognize type of synthesis reaction occurs when two or more elements combine to form a compound. The other type of synthesis reaction happens when an element and a compound combine to form a new compound.

Basically, to identify this reaction, look for a product that contains all the reactant atoms. Be sure to count the number of atoms in both the reactants and the products. Sometimes when a chemical equation is written, "extra" information is given that might make it hard to recognize what is going on in a reaction . Counting numbers and types of atoms makes it easier to identify reaction types.

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What is a Synthesis Reaction?

Reduction of Benzophenone by Sodium Borohydride

Did you eat a synthesis reaction for breakfast? It's highly likely if you consumed taurine, which is the result of an organic synthesis reaction and commonly found in milk and eggs. In chemistry, a synthesis reaction is when two or more chemicals combine and form a more complex product. You will also have more reactants than products since two or more chemical species combine to form one new larger compound.

What Happens in a Synthesis Reaction?

In a synthesis reaction, two or more chemical species combine, forming a more complex product in the reaction. It is also called a direct reaction and is one of the most common chemical reactions. When the two or more reactants combine they make a larger compound. A synthesis reaction is the opposite of a decomposition reaction, which is when the bonds are broken in a complex product, and it splits the product into its respective components or elements.

What Is the General Form of a Synthesis Reaction?

The word synthesis means to put together. When two or more products are put together it produces a new single product. The basic form of the chemical equation is written as:

What are Some Synthesis Reaction Examples?

Some synthesis reactions occur when burning various metals by adding oxygen to them. Here are some examples:

Magnesium + oxygen → magnesium oxide

Alternatively, in the chemical equation:

2Mg + O 2 → 2MgO

This synthesis reaction gives off a very bright light, so if you perform it, wear safety goggles and don't look directly at the light, or you can harm your eyes.

Aluminum + bromine → aluminum bromide

Or in the chemical equation:

2Al + 3Br 2 → 2AlBr 3

What Is a Synthesis Reaction in Organic Chemistry?

Organic synthesis reactions involve organic compounds. Organic molecules are more complex than their inorganic counterparts are. In many cases, because of the complexity, synthesis reactions of organic compounds require several steps one after the other to create a single product. This makes intermediate compounds for each step before the final single product.

For example, when water combines with ethyl leads it forms ethanol or:

CH 2 = CH 2 + HCl → CH 3 -CH 2 Cl

Other Considerations of a Synthesis Reaction

A synthesis reaction can occur when combining elements and producing a new compound, combining compounds to produce a new compound, or combining both elements and compounds to result in a new compound.

When a metal and non-metal are combined, they produce an ionic compound.

When two non-metals combine, they produce a covalent compound.

When combining metal oxide and water (both compounds), it produces a new compound of a metal hydroxide.

Non-metal and water combinations result in an oxy acid compound.

Metal oxides and carbon dioxide combined produce metal carbonates.

The combination of an element and a compound to produce a new compound can be seen in carbon dioxide. This is the product of carbon monoxide and oxygen, written in a chemical equation as:

2CO (g) + O 2 (g) → 2CO 2 (g)

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Mary Lougee has been writing about chemistry, biology, algebra, geometry, trigonometry and calculus for more than 12 years. She gained the knowledge in these fields by taking accelerated classes throughout college while gaining her degree.

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Synthesis Reactions

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Synthesis reactions are a type of chemical reaction where two or more simple substances combine to form a more complex substance.

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• AP Chemistry - 4.1 Introduction for Reactions

Related terms

Reactants : These are the starting materials in a chemical reaction, similar to the individual ingredients in our cake analogy.

Product : This is the end result of a chemical reaction. In our analogy, this would be the baked cake.

Covalent Bonding : This is one way that atoms can stick together to form molecules, much like how different ingredients stick together to make up our final product - the cake.

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Chapter 4: Chemical Quantities and Aqueous Reactions

Back to chapter, synthesis and decomposition reactions, previous video 4.12: acids, bases and neutralization reactions.

Generally, in a chemical reaction, molecules interact by breaking one set of bonds and forming a new set of bonds. 

A redox, or oxidation–reduction, reaction is a type of chemical reaction involving the partial or complete transfer of electrons. In such reactions, one reactant is oxidized and the other is reduced, with an observable change in their oxidation states. 

The oxidized element, which has lost electrons, undergoes an increase in oxidation state. The reduced element, which has gained electrons, undergoes a decrease in oxidation state.

Among the most common redox reactions are synthesis and decomposition reactions. The synthesis of proteins from different amino acids and the digestion of proteins into amino acids are important examples.

Synthesis, or combination, reactions involve the formation of bonds between reactants to create a single product. The reactants may include only elements, elements and compounds, or only compounds. 

Examples are the combination of elemental hydrogen and oxygen to create water, the addition of carbon monoxide to elemental oxygen to form carbon dioxide, and the combination of calcium oxide and water to form calcium hydroxide.

Notice that in all cases, multiple simpler reactants combined into a single complex product.

A decomposition reaction is the opposite of a synthesis reaction. In decomposition reactions, a single complex reactant breaks down into simpler products like elements, elements and compounds, or just compounds. 

Decomposition reactions require an input of some form of energy. For example, under the influence of an electric field, water breaks down to give hydrogen and oxygen.

In the presence of sunlight, hydrogen peroxide decomposes into oxygen and water. Similarly, calcium hydroxide, upon being heated, decomposes into calcium oxide and water.

Synthesis and decomposition are two types of redox reactions. Synthesis means to make something, whereas decomposition means to break something. The reactions are accompanied by chemical and energy changes. 

Synthesis Reactions

Synthesis reactions are also called combination reactions. It is a reaction in which two or more substances combine to form a complex substance. Synthesis reactions are generally represented as: A + B → AB or A + B → C. The formation of nitrogen dioxide is a synthesis reaction: 2 NO ( g ) + O 2 ( g ) → 2 NO 2 ( g ).

In synthesis reactions, the reactants could be all elements (1), or a combination of an element and a compound (2), or all compounds (3).

1) C ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) → CO 2 ( g )     2) 2 CO ( g ) + O 2 ( g ) → 2 CO 2 ( g )  3) 2 CaO ( s ) + 2 H 2 O ( l ) → 2 Ca(OH) 2 ( s )

A combination reaction between a metal and a nonmetal always produces an ionic solid. For example, the formation of sodium chloride or table salt from sodium and chlorine is a combination reaction: 2 Na (s) + Cl 2 ( g ) → 2 NaCl ( s ).

A synthesis reaction is generally accompanied by the release of energy. In the above example of sodium chloride, 787 kJ of heat energy is released. 

Decomposition Reactions

Oxygen was first discovered by the scientist Joseph Priestley, in 1774, by heating mercury oxide with a burning glass. The reaction was a result of decomposition. Priestley had broken down mercury(II) oxide with heat into its elements.  The reaction is represented as: 2 HgO ( s ) → 2 Hg ( l ) + O 2 ( g )

Decomposition reactions involve breaking down a more complex substance into two or more smaller substances. This reaction is often represented as: AB → A + B or C → A + B. Decomposition reactions occur everywhere. For instance, the digestion of proteins, fats, and carbohydrates in our food is an important decomposition reaction. Another example is the decomposition of sodium azide into nitrogen gas. 

The reaction is represented as: 2 NaN 3 ( s ) → 2 Na ( s ) + 3 N 2 ( g )

In the above reaction, although the coefficient 2 indicates two molecules of sodium azide being decomposed, there is only one reactant. It is, therefore, a decomposition reaction. Similar to the synthesis reaction, in a decomposition reaction, the products formed could be all elements (1), or a combination of elements and compounds (2), or all compounds (3).

1)    2 Al 2 O 3 ( s ) → 4 Al ( s ) + 3 O 2 ( g ) 2)    2 KClO 3 ( s ) → 2 KCl ( s ) + 3 O 2 ( g ) 3)    NH 4 Cl ( s ) → NH 3 ( g ) + HCl ( g )

9.9 An Introduction to Organic Synthesis

9.9 • An Introduction to Organic Synthesis

As mentioned in the introduction, one of the purposes of this chapter is to use alkyne chemistry as a vehicle to begin looking at some of the general strategies used in organic synthesis—the construction of complex molecules in the laboratory. There are many reasons for carrying out the laboratory synthesis of an organic compound. In the pharmaceutical industry, new molecules are designed and synthesized in the hope that some might be useful new drugs. In the chemical industry, syntheses are done to devise more economical routes to known compounds. In academic laboratories, the synthesis of extremely complex molecules is sometimes done just for the intellectual challenge involved in mastering so difficult a subject. The successful synthesis route is a highly creative work that is sometimes described by such subjective terms as elegant or beautiful .

In this book, too, we will often devise syntheses of molecules from simpler precursors, but the purpose here is to learn. The ability to plan a successful multistep synthetic sequence requires a working knowledge of the uses and limitations of many different organic reactions. Furthermore, it requires the practical ability to piece together the steps in a sequence such that each reaction does only what is desired without causing changes elsewhere in the molecule. Planning a synthesis makes you approach a chemical problem in a logical way, draw on your knowledge of chemical reactions, and organize that knowledge into a workable plan—it helps you learn organic chemistry.

There’s no secret to planning an organic synthesis: all it takes is a knowledge of the different reactions and some practice. The only real trick is to work backward in what is often called a retrosynthetic direction. Don’t look at a potential starting material and ask yourself what reactions it might undergo. Instead, look at the final product and ask, “What was the immediate precursor of that product?” For example, if the final product is an alkyl halide, the immediate precursor might be an alkene, to which you could add HX. If the final product is a cis alkene, the immediate precursor might be an alkyne, which you could hydrogenate using the Lindlar catalyst. Having found an immediate precursor, work backward again, one step at a time, until you get back to the starting material. You have to keep the starting material in mind, of course, so that you can work back to it, but you don’t want that starting material to be your main focus.

Let’s work several examples of increasing complexity.

Worked Example 9.1

Devising a synthesis route.

How would you synthesize cis -2-hexene from 1-pentyne and an alkyl halide? More than one step is needed.

The product in this case is a cis-disubstituted alkene, so the first question is, “What is an immediate precursor of a cis-disubstituted alkene?” We know that an alkene can be prepared from an alkyne by reduction and that the right choice of experimental conditions will allow us to prepare either a trans-disubstituted alkene (using lithium in liquid ammonia) or a cis-disubstituted alkene (using catalytic hydrogenation over the Lindlar catalyst). Thus, reduction of 2-hexyne by catalytic hydrogenation using the Lindlar catalyst should yield cis -2-hexene.

Next ask, “What is an immediate precursor of 2-hexyne?” We’ve seen that an internal alkyne can be prepared by alkylation of a terminal alkyne anion. In the present instance, we’re told to start with 1-pentyne and an alkyl halide. Thus, alkylation of the anion of 1-pentyne with iodomethane should yield 2-hexyne.

Worked Example 9.2

How would you synthesize 2-bromopentane from acetylene and an alkyl halide? More than one step is needed.

What is an immediate precursor of an alkene? Perhaps an alkyne, which could be reduced.

What is an immediate precursor of a terminal alkyne? Perhaps sodium acetylide and an alkyl halide.

The desired product can be synthesized in four steps from acetylene and 1-bromopropane.

Worked Example 9.3

How would you synthesize 5-methyl-1-hexanol (5-methyl-1-hydroxyhexane) from acetylene and an alkyl halide?

What is an immediate precursor of a terminal alkene? Perhaps a terminal alkyne, which could be reduced.

What is an immediate precursor of 5-methyl-1-hexyne? Perhaps acetylene and 1-bromo-3-methylbutane.

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chemical synthesis

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chemical synthesis , the construction of complex chemical compounds from simpler ones. It is the process by which many substances important to daily life are obtained. It is applied to all types of chemical compounds , but most syntheses are of organic molecules.

Chemists synthesize chemical compounds that occur in nature in order to gain a better understanding of their structures. Synthesis also enables chemists to produce compounds that do not form naturally for research purposes. In industry, synthesis is used to make products in large quantity.

Chemical compounds are made up of atoms of different elements, joined together by chemical bonds. A chemical synthesis usually involves the breaking of existing bonds and the formation of new ones. Synthesis of a complex molecule may involve a considerable number of individual reactions leading in sequence from available starting materials to the desired end product. Each step usually involves reaction at only one chemical bond in the molecule.

In planning the route of chemical synthesis, chemists usually visualize the end product and work backward toward increasingly simpler compounds. For many compounds, it is possible to establish alternative synthetic routes. The ones actually used depend on many factors, such as cost and availability of starting materials, the amount of energy needed to make the reaction proceed at a satisfactory rate, and the cost of separating and purifying the end products. Moreover, knowledge of the reaction mechanism and the function of the chemical structure (or behaviour of the functional groups) helps to accurately determine the most-favoured pathway that leads to the desired reaction product.

A goal in planning a chemical synthesis is to find reactions that will affect only one part of the molecule, leaving other parts unchanged. Another goal is to produce high yields of the desired product in as short a time as possible. Often, reactions in a synthesis compete, reducing the yield of a desired product. Competition can also lead to the formation of side products which can be difficult to separate from the main one. In some industrial syntheses, by-product formation can be welcome if the by-products are commercially useful. Diethyl ether , for example, is a by-product of the large-scale synthesis of ethanol (ethyl alcohol) from ethylene. Both the alcohol and ether are valuable and can be separated easily.

The reactions involved in chemical syntheses usually, but not always, involve at least two different substances. Some molecules will change into others solely under the effect of heat, for example, while others react on exposure to radiation (e.g., ultraviolet light) or to electric current . However, where two or more different substances interact, they need to be brought into close proximity with one another. This is usually done by carrying out the syntheses with the elements or compounds in their liquid or gaseous states. Where the reactants are involatile solids, reaction is often carried out in solution.

The rate of a chemical reaction generally increases with temperature; chemical syntheses are thus often carried out at elevated temperatures. The industrial synthesis of nitric acid from ammonia and oxygen, for instance, is carried out at about 900 °C (1,650 °F). Frequently, heating will increase the rate of a reaction insufficiently or the instability of one or more reactants prevents application. In such cases catalysts —substances that speed up or slow down a reaction—are used. Most industrial processes involve the use of catalysts.

Some substances react so rapidly and violently that only careful control of the conditions will lead to the desired product. When ethylene gas is synthesized to polyethylene, one of the most common plastics, a large amount of heat is released. If this release is not controlled in some way—e.g., by cooling the reactor vessel—the ethylene molecules decompose to carbon and hydrogen.

Many techniques have been developed to separate the products of chemical synthesis. These often involve a phase change. For example, the product of a synthetic reaction may not dissolve in a particular solvent, while the starting materials do. In this case, the product will precipitate out as a solid and can be separated from the mixture by filtration. Alternatively, if both starting materials and products are volatile, it may be possible to separate them by distillation.

Certain chemical syntheses lend themselves readily to the use of automated techniques. Automatic DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) synthesizers, for example, are widely used to produce specific protein sequences.

Synthesis is the production of chemical compounds by reaction from simpler materials. The construction of complex and defined new molecules is a challenging and complicated undertaking, and one that requires the constant development of new reactions, catalysts and techniques.

Synthesis projects underpin developments in a very wide range of areas. This makes chemical synthesis a unique and enabling science; it means that the design of new molecules can be put into practice so that the target compounds can be made and tested for interesting properties or activity. 

Areas in which synthesis is essential

Catalysts Catalysis is critical to a very wide range of industrial processes, encompassing both bulk and fine chemical manufacture.  The rational design, synthesis and optimization of catalyst systems is therefore crucial to the development of more efficient, selective and environmentally tolerant processes.  Research in this area is focussed on both metal-containing and metal-free systems, and targets not only better catalysts for existing processes but also entirely new catalytic transformations.

Medicine and drug discovery The development of new pharmaceutical products is an extremely important aspect of organic synthesis.  This undertaking enables the discovery and optimisation of complex molecules with potent and selective biological activity.  An understanding of synthetic chemistry allows balancing of chemical properties so that the molecules behave as desired in cells and patients.  New reaction development is another essential facet of this work, because it opens up previously inaccessible routes to new compounds.

New materials The preparation of functional materials with custom-designed properties (e.g. electronic, optical, magnetic) is fundamental to breakthroughs in areas such as batteries, solar cell development, superconductors, smart materials etc., which hold much promise for future technologies.  Oxford has a long-established track record in this area, with the fundamental synthetic work underpinning lithium ion battery technology having been carried out in the Department.

Chemical biology The synthesis of molecules that are designed to interact with and probe biological systems is very useful for investigating and understanding the processes involved in living systems.  Such compounds allow us to understand fundamental biological processes more clearly, and to aid drug discovery through effective target validation.

Natural products The history of medicines, flavourings and agrochemicals illustrates the central importance of natural products.  Synthetic chemistry is very useful in mimicking Nature and allowing us to prepare complex molecules that are produced naturally but without disrupting the source itself.  Such natural products, and analogues thereof, have myriad uses as drugs, flavourings and agrochemicals.

Imaging Synthetic dyes and probes have been extremely important in recent developments in imaging, which means that more powerful and less intrusive techniques can be used in the search for diseased or damaged tissue.

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Definition noun, plural: syntheses ( biochemistry ) The production of an organic compound in a living thing, especially as aided by enzymes Supplement In general, the term synthesis pertains to the creation of something. It is the process of combining two or more components to produce an entity. In biochemistry, it refers to the production of an organic compound in a living thing, especially as aided by enzymes. There are several syntheses occurring in the cell or organism. The creation of an organic compound in a living organism is referred to as biosynthesis. One of them is photosynthesis, a synthesis of complex organic material using carbon dioxide, water, inorganic salts, and light energy (from sunlight) captured by light-absorbing pigments, such as chlorophyll and other accessory pigments. In other relevant fields, such as chemistry, the term refers to the act or process of forming a complex substance by combining or integrating two or more chemical entities, especially through a chemical reaction. In psychiatry, synthesis pertains to the integration of different elements of the personality, in opposition to analysis. Word origin: Latin synthesis , from Ancient Greek synthesis (a putting together) See also:

• biosynthesis

Related term(s):

• photosynthesis
• Kiliani-fischer synthesis
• Merrifield synthesis
• Protein synthesis
• Dna synthesis
• Gene synthesis
• Synthesis of continuity
• Synthesis period

Related form(s):

• synthesize or synthesise ( verb , to produce substance by combining chemical precursors)

Last updated on July 23rd, 2021

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• Organic syntheses : an annual publication of satisfactory methods for the preparation of organic chemicals .. "Organic Syntheses describes checked and edited experimental procedures, spanning a broad range of synthetic methodologies, and provides chemists with a compendium of new or little known experimental procedures which lead to useful compounds or that illustrate important new developments in methodology. For every procedure, safety warnings are presented along with detailed descriptions for the preparation, purification, and identification of the compound in question. Additionally, special reaction conditions are detailed, along with the source of reagents, helpful waste disposal guidelines, discussions of results, references to the primary literature, and an appendix of nomenclature and registry numbers."--Publisher's website.
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Definition of synthesis

• amalgamation
• combination
• intermixture

Examples of synthesis in a Sentence

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'synthesis.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Greek, from syntithenai to put together, from syn- + tithenai to put, place — more at do

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing synthesis

synthesis gas

Dictionary Entries Near synthesis

Cite this entry.

“Synthesis.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synthesis. Accessed 6 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of synthesis, medical definition, medical definition of synthesis, more from merriam-webster on synthesis.

Nglish: Translation of synthesis for Spanish Speakers

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about synthesis

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Chemical Science

Direct synthesis of chiral β-arylamines via additive-free asymmetric reductive amination enabled by tunable bulky phos-phoramidite ligands.

This report describes an additive-free iridium-catalyzed direct asymmetric reductive amination that enables the efficient synthesis of chiral β-arylamines, which are important pharmacophores presenting in a wide variety of pharmaceutical drugs. The reaction makes use of bulky and extraordinarily tunable phosphoramidite ligands for high levels of enantiomeric control, even for alkylamino coupling partners which lack secondary coordinating sites. The synthetic value of this succinct procedure is demonstrated by single-step synthesis of multiple drugs, analogs and key intermediates. Mechanistic investigations reveal an enamine-reduction pathway, in which H-bonding, steric repulsion, CH-π and electrostatic interactions play important roles in defining the spatial environment for the “outer-sphere” hydride addition.

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J. Wang, W. Wang, H. Huang, Z. Ma and M. Chang, Chem. Sci. , 2024, Accepted Manuscript , DOI: 10.1039/D4SC04416A

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• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202411362
• Corpus ID: 272354213

Design and Synthesis of D‐A Polymer as Cathode Material for Na‐Based Dual‐Ion Batteries with Excellent Cycling Performance

• Jingfu Chen , Haoyu Yin , +6 authors Fei Wu
• Published in Advanced Functional Materials 2 September 2024
• Materials Science, Chemistry, Engineering

36 References

Recent development of phosphate based polyanion cathode materials for sodium‐ion batteries, tetrathiafulvalene carboxylate-based anode material for high-performance sodium-ion batteries., additive-rejuvenated anions (de)intercalation into graphite cathode enables optimum dual-ion battery, low‐temperature sodium‐ion batteries: challenges and progress, organic electrode materials for dual-ion batteries., azobenzene-phenazine-based d–a polymer as a highly efficient bipolar cathode for sodium-ion batteries, high-output-voltage and -energy-density all-organic dual-ion battery using molecular thianthrene, bio-based polyhydroxyanthraquinones as high-voltage organic electrode materials for batteries, boosting the ultrastable high-na-content p2-type layered cathode materials with zero-strain cation storage via a lithium dual-site substitution approach., rational molecular design strategy of a carbonyl cathode for better aluminum organic batteries, related papers.

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