At the end of this chapter, student
should be able to:
• Determination of oxidation number
• OXIDATION NUMBER
5.1
• Definition and examples of agents of oxidation and reduction
• OXIDATION
• REDUCTION
5.2 • OXIDISING AGENT
• REDUCING AGENT
• Balancing redox equations in acidic and basic medium
• REDOX REACTION
5.3
5.1 Oxidation State or Oxidation Number
Oxidation state (O.S.) or oxidation number (O.N.)
refers to the number of electrons transferred, shared,
or otherwise involved in the formation of the
chemical bonds in a substance
It is actually a positive or negative number assigned to
an atom or ion to show it is bonded to another
element in a substance
Use the following rules to assign oxidation numbers:
(a) For free elements (that is, in the uncombined state), each
atom has an oxidation number of zero, eg metals – Mg, Na, K,
non-metal – C, Cl2,H2
(b) For ions composed of only one atom, the oxidation number is
equal to the charge on the ion, eg: bromide ion, Br- = -1,
aluminium ion, Al3+ = +3
(c) For hydrogen, the O.N. can be assigned as follows:
Hydrogen + non-metal covalent hydride
Eg: HCl, H2O,NH3,H2SO3, O.N = +1
Hydrogen + metal ionic hydride
Eg: LiH, NaH, KH, MgH2, O.N = -1
(d) For oxygen, the O.N can be assigned as follows:
the O.N. of O in oxides is -2
Eg: Na2O, BaO, H2O
the O.N of O in peroxides and superoxides is -1
Eg: Na2O2, BaO2, H2O2
If O combines with a more electronegative atom (e.g. a
fluorine atom, F) to form a compound, the O.N. of O in the
compound is +2, eg: F2O
(e) For elements in Group lA, llA and Aluminium, the assignment of
O.N can be carried out as follows:
All alkali metals (group lA) have O.N of +1, eg:Na2O
All alkaline earth metals (Group llA) have O.N. of +2,
eg BeCl2
Aluminium has O.N of +3, eg: AlCl3
(f) For fluorine and Group Vll elements, the O.N can be assigned as
follows:
fluorine has an oxidation number of -1 in all its
compounds.
other halogens (Cl, Br, and l) have negative oxidation
numbers when they occurs as halide ions in their
compounds
when combined with oxygen, for example in HClO4,
ClO3-, BrO3-, The O.N of halogen is positive
(g) The sum of the O.N (O.N) of all the atoms must be zero in a
neutral molecule or ionic compound. In a polyatomic ion, the sum
of O.N of all the atoms must be equal to the net charge of the ion.
Example:
(1) Find the oxidation number of C in Na2CO3
(2) Find the oxidation number of Mn in MnO4-
5.2 Oxidation
An oxidation process is a half-reaction that involves
releases of electrons
In oxidation reaction, the oxidation number of one
or more elements increases
In all of these oxidation reactions, the oxidation
number of the material is increased by the release of
electrons
Example:
(a) Na - e Na+
Oxidation Release 1 Oxidation
number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
=0 = +1
Oxidation number
increases
Example:
(b) Sn2+ - 2e Sn4+
Oxidation Release 2 Oxidation
number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= +2 = +4
Oxidation number
increases
Example:
(c) S2- - 2e S
Oxidation Release 2 Oxidation
number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= -2 =0
Oxidation number
increases
5.3 Reduction
A reduction process is that involves gain of electrons
In this reduction reaction, the oxidation number of
one or more elements decreases
In all of these reduction reactions, the oxidation
number of the material is decreased by the
accepting electrons
Example:
(a) Fe3+ + 1e Fe2+
Oxidation Accept 1 Oxidation
number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
= +3 = +2
Oxidation number
decreases
Example:
(b) Cl + e Cl-
Oxidation Accept 1 Oxidation
number (O.N) electron number (O.N)
=0 = -1
Oxidation number
decreases
Example:
(c) Zn2+ + 2e Zn
Oxidation Accept 2 Oxidation
number (O.N) electrons number (O.N)
= +2 =0
Oxidation number
decreases
5.4 Oxidising Agent
An oxidising agent is a substance that oxidises other
substances while it itself is being reduced in an
oxidation-reduction reaction
An oxidising agent oxidises by accepting electrons
donated by the reducing agent and its O.N
decreases.
Examples
Cl2 + 2e 2Cl-
Cl2 is an oxidising agent because it accepts electrons and its O.N
decreases from 0 to -1
5.5 Reducing Agent
A reducing agent is a substance which reduces other
substances while it itself is being oxidised in a redox
reaction
A reducing agent reduces by giving away electrons to
the oxidising agent ant its O.N increases
Examples
Na - e Na+
Na is a reducing agent because it releases an electron and its
O.N increases from 0 to +1
5.6 Redox or Reduction Oxidation Reaction
An oxidation-reduction reaction consists of two
half-reactions, that is
the oxidation half-reaction in which electrons are lost
the reduction half-reaction in which electrons are gained
In a redox reaction, the oxidation state of the
reducing agent increases while that of the oxidising
agent decreases Oxidation – reducing
Examples: agent
2Fe3+ + Sn2+ 2Fe2+ + Sn4+
Reduction – oxidising
agent
Balancing Redox Equations
Some equations for oxidation-reduction reactions
can be easily balanced by inspection
However, it is often easier to balance the oxidation-
reduction reactions by the half-reaction method
This method is based on the principle that all the
electrons ‘lost’ in an oxidation half-reaction must be
‘gained’ in a reduction half-reaction
The following procedure is followed
to balance redox equation:
1. Divide the equation into two ½ equation
2. Balance metal/non-metal (except O2 & H2)
3. Balance oxygen by adding H2O
[Link] hydrogen by adding H+
5. Balance electron
[Link] the equation
1. Balance metal/non-
Eg 1: Balance the redox reaction given below metal
2. Balance oxygen
Cr2O72- + Cl- Cr3+ + Cl2 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron
reduction oxidation
Reduction
Cr2O72- 2Cr3+
1 O = 1 H2O
2 O = 2 H2O
Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
1 H = 1 H+
2 H = 2 H+
14H+ + Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
X + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
x + 14(1) + 1 (-2) = 2(3) + 7(0)
For reduction Remember:
x + 14 -2 = 6+0
X at the left x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
side x + 12 = 6
get positive it is INCORRECT
x =-6
X + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
x=-6
6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O
Half reaction for reduction is balance
1. Balance metal/non-
metal
2. Balance oxygen
Cr2O72- + Cl- Cr3+ + Cl2 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron
oxidation
Oxidation
Cl- Cl2
TIPS:
2Cl- Cl2 O X (SO X AT THE
RIGHT SIDE)
2Cl- Cl2 + X For oxidation X at the right side
2 (-1) = 1 (0) + X
-2 = 0 +x
Remember:
x =-2 x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
get positive it is INCORRECT
2Cl- Cl2 + X
x=-2
2Cl- Cl2 + 2e
Half reaction for oxidation is balance
Combine the 2 half reaction
6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2 O reduction
+
3 (2Cl- Cl2 + 2e ) = 6Cl- 3Cl2 + 6e oxidation
6e + 14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 6e
14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2
14H+ + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2
Verify by checking the net equation to ensure that
electric charge are balanced for the both side
14(1) + 1(-2) + 6(-1) = 2(+3) + 7(0) + 3(0)
14 -2 -6 = 6+0+0
6 = 6
If in basic solution
- Balance the equation as if the reaction were occurring in acidic
medium, by using the method for acidic aqueous solutions
- To both sided of the overall equation obtained, add a number of
OH- that is equal to the number of H+ ions
- On the side of the overall equation containing both H+ and OH-
ions, combine them to form H2O molecules
14H+ + 14OH- + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-
14H2O + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-
7H2O + Cr2 O72- + 6Cl- 2 Cr3+ + 7H2O + 3Cl2 + 14OH-
1. Balance metal/non-
Example 2: metal
2. Balance oxygen
NO3- + H2SO3 SO42- + NO 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance elec tron
TIPS:
reduction oxidation Lose hydrogen in reaction– oxidation
Adding oxygen in reaction - reduction
Reduction
NO3- NO
1 O = 1 H2O
2 O = 2 H2O
4H+ + N O3- NO + 2H2 O
1 H = 1 H+
2 H = 2 H+
X + 4H+ + NO3- NO + 2H2 O
x + 4(1) + 1 (-1) = 1(0) + 2(0)
x + 4 -1 = 0+0
For reduction Remember:
X at the left x+3 = 0 x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
side x =-3 get positive it is INCORRECT
X + 4H+ + NO3- NO + 2H2 O
x=-3
3e + 4H+ + NO3- NO + 2H2 O
Half reaction for reduction is balance
1. Balance metal/non-
metal
2. Balance oxygen
NO3- + H2SO3 SO42- + NO 3. Balance hydrogen
4. Balance electron
oxidation
Oxidation TIPS:
H2 S O3 S O42- O X (SO X AT THE
RIGHT SIDE)
H2 S O3 + H2 O S O42- + 4H+
For oxidation X at the right side
H2 S O3 + H2 O S O42- + 4H+ + X
1 (0) + 1(0) = 1 (-2) + 4(+1) + X
0 = -2 + 4 + X
Remember:
0 = +2 + X x value must be negative (-ve) , if u
get positive it is INCORRECT
x = -2
H2SO3 + H2O SO42- + 4H+ + X
x=-2
H2 SO3 + H2 O SO42- + 4H+ + 2e
Half reaction for oxidation is balance
Combine the 2 half reaction
2(3e + 4H+ + NO3- NO + 2H2 O) reduction
+
3(H2 SO3 + H2 O SO42- + 4H+ + 2e) oxidation
6e + 8H+ + 2NO3- + 3H2 SO3 + 3H2 O 2NO + 4H2O + 3SO42- + 12H+ + 6e
2NO3- + 3H2SO3 2NO + H2O + 3SO42- + 4H+
2NO3- + 3H2 SO3 2NO + H2O + 3SO42- + 4H+
Verify by checking the net equation to ensure that
electric charge are balanced for the both side
2(-1) + 3(0) = 2(0) + 1(0) + 3(-2) + 4(+1)
-2 +0 = 0 + 0 -6 + 4
-2 = -2
