Statement I: Oxidation in our body cell releases dangerous free radicals Statement II : Our body itself produces anti- oxidants to neutralize harmful free radicals

The correct answer is Option 2. Both statements are scientifically accurate, but Statement II does not provide the causal explanation for why oxidation occurs or why it releases free radicals.

• Statement I is true: During cellular respiration, oxygen molecules split into single atoms with unpaired electrons, known as free radicals. These are highly unstable and cause oxidative stress, damaging proteins, lipids, and DNA.
• Statement II is true: To maintain cellular homeostasis, the human body produces endogenous antioxidants (such as glutathione, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) that neutralize these free radicals by donating an electron.

Reason for Option 2: While Statement II describes a defense mechanism against the phenomenon mentioned in Statement I, it does not explain how or why oxidation produces free radicals in the first place. The two statements represent a biological process and a subsequent counter-measure, rather than a cause-and-effect relationship explaining the chemical nature of oxidation.