Chapter (13)
OXIDATION AND REDUCTION
Oxidation and Reduction as Gain or
Loss of Oxygen
Oxidation and reduction always take place together.
So the reaction is called a redox reaction.
Oxidation and Reduction as Gain or
Loss of hydrogen
A loss of hydrogen is called oxidation. The substance is oxidised.
A gain of hydrogen is called reduction. The substance is reduced.
Oxidation and Reduction as Gain or
Loss of Electrons
If a substance loses electrons during a reaction, it has been oxidised.
If it gains electrons, it has been reduced.
The reaction is a redox reaction.
Redox: a summary
Oxidation is gain of oxygen, loss of hydrogen or loss of electrons.
Reduction is loss of oxygen, gain of hydrogen or gain of electrons.
Oxidation and reduction always take place together, in a redox reaction.
Oxidation and Reduction in terms of
changes in oxidation state
What does oxidation state mean?
Oxidation state tells you how many electrons each atom of an element
has gained, lost, or shared, in forming a compound.
Q. What is the oxidation number for the
underlined element in each of the following
substance?
(a) NaHCO3 (b) KMnO4 (c) MnO4- (d) Cr2O7 2-
(e ) PCl3 (f) HNO3 (g) KClO3 (h) N2O (i) NH3 (j) P2O5
(k) SO42- (l) NH4+ (m) P4
The oxidation states in a formula add up to zero.
a Give the oxidation state of the underlined atom
in each formula below:
i aluminium oxide, Al O
2 3
ii ammonia, NH 3
iii H CO (aq), carbonic acid
2 3
iv phosphorus trichloride, PCl 3
v copper(I) chloride, CuCl
vi copper(II) chloride, CuCl 2
Many elements have the same oxidation state in most or all their
compounds.
Element Usual oxidation state
in compounds
hydrogen +1
sodium and the other Group I +1
metals
calcium and the other Group II +2
metals
aluminium +3
chlorine and the other Group VII -1
non-metals, in
compounds without oxygen
oxygen (except in peroxides) -2
Atoms of transition elements can have variable oxidation states in
their compounds.
Element Usual oxidation state
in compounds
iron +2,+3
copper +1,+2
manganese +2,+4,+7
chromium +3
1. The algebraic sum of the oxidation numbers of all atoms in a formula is equal to the net
charge on the group of atoms represented by the formula .The oxidation numbers in NaCl
must be zero, and the sum of the oxidation number in MnO4- must be -1.
2. All elements in the free state (i.e uncombined with any other elements ) have an oxidation
number of zero. (e.g Cu(s) , Mg(s) , Cl2(g) , Br2(g)
3. In a simple ion the oxidation number is the same as the charge on the ion. e.g the ion
Al3+ has an oxidation mumber of +3 and the ion S2- has an oxidation number of -2.
4. The alkali metals ( Group I metals) always exhibit an oxidation number of +1 in their
compounds, (Group II metals always exhibit an oxidation number +2 in their compound.
5. The oxidation number of oxygen in its compounds is taken to be -2 (except in O2,O3 and
peroxides)
6. The oxidation number of hydrogen in its compounds is taken to be +1 (except in H2 , and
ionic hydrides)
Oxidation states change during redox reactions
Look at the equation for the reaction between sodium and chlorine:
2Na (s) + Cl2 (g) 2NaCl (s)
0 0 +I -I
If oxidation states change during a reaction, it is a redox reaction.
Example 1 Iron reacts with sulfur to form iron(II) sulfide:
Fe (s) + S (s) FeS (s)
0 0 +2 − 2
Quick checks
1. State , with reasons, whether each underlined substances have been oxidized or reduced.
(1) H2S + Br2 ---------→ 2HBr+ S
(2)CuO + H2 ------→ Cu + H2O
(3) Zn + Cu2+ ----→ Zn2+ + Cu
(4)PbO + C ------→ Pb + CO
(5)MnO4- + Fe2+ + H+ -------→ Mn2+ + Fe3+ + H2O
(6) Mg + O2 ----→ MgO
(7)Fe3+ + Al --------→ Fe + Al 3+
(8)ZnO + C -----→ Zn + CO
(9) H2SO4 + C -------→ CO2 +SO2 + H2O
(10) HI + HNO3 ------→ I2 + NO +H2O
What are oxidising and reducing agents?
An oxidising agent oxidises another substance – and is itself reduced.
A reducing agent reduces another substance – and is itself oxidised.
2 Potassium dichromate(VI): an oxidising agent
3 Potassium iodide: a reducing agent
Select (a) an oxidizing agent and (b) a reducing agent from the
following list:
Carbon , potassium manganate , chlorine, copper, nitric acid, potassium
dichromate, carbon monoxide, potassium iodide, sulfur dioxide,
oxygen, H2SO4 (conc) , H2S, Br2,
