MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
REDOX REACTIONS
oxidation is the process of reduction is the process of electron
electron loss: gain:
Zn Zn2+ + 2e Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl-
It involves an increase in It involves a decrease in oxidation
oxidation number number
REMEMBER : OILRIG
Oxidation number
One way of accounting for electrons is to use OXIDATION NUMBERS.
The oxidation number of an atom shows the number of electrons
which it has lost or gained as a result of forming a compound
e.g. Fe2+ needs to gain two electrons for it to become neutral iron
atom therefore its oxidation number is +2.
Using oxidation numbers it is possible to decide whether redox has
occurred.
Increase in oxidation number is oxidation.
Decrease in oxidation number is reduction.
We can apply a series of rules to assign an oxidation state to each
atom in a substance.
Rules for assigning oxidation numbers
1. All uncombined elements have an oxidation number of zero
eg . Zn, Cl2, O2, Ar all have oxidation numbers of zero
2. The oxidation numbers of the elements in a compound add up to zero
eg In NaCl Na= +1 Cl= -1 Sum = +1 -1 = 0
3. The oxidation number of a monoatomic ion is equal to the ionic charge
e.g. Zn2+ = +2 Cl- = -1
4. In a polyatomic ion (CO32-) the sum of the individual oxidation numbers of the
elements adds up to the charge on the ion
e.g. in CO32- C = +4 and O = -2 sum = +4 + (3 x -2) = -2
5. Several elements have invariable oxidation numbers in their common
compounds.
i.e.
Group 1 metals = +1
Group 2 metals = +2
Al = +3
H = +1 (except in metal hydrides where it is –1 eg NaH)
F = -1 Cl, Br, I = –1 except in compounds with oxygen and fluorine O = -2
except in peroxides (H2O2 ).
where it is –1 and in compounds with fluorine
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
What is the oxidation number of Fe in FeCl 3?
Using rule 5,
Cl has an oxidation number of –1
Using rule 2,
the oxidation number of the elements must add up to 0
Fe must have an oxidation number of +3 in order to cancel out 3 x –1 = -3 of
the Cl’s
Examples
1. The oxidation number of S in H2SO4
H2 S O4
2 x +1 ? 4 x -2 =0
+2 ? -8 =0
+2 +6 -8 =0
s = +6
2. The oxidation number of S in S2O82-
S2 O4
? 8 x -2 = -2
? -16 = -2
+14 -16 = -2
S = +7
3. The oxidation number of Cl in NaClO3.
Na Cl O3
+1 ? 3 x -2 =0
+1 ? -6 =0
+1 +5 -6 =0
Cl = +5
4. The oxidation number of Mn in MnO4-
Mn O4
? 4 x -2 = -1
? -8 = -1
+7 -8 = -1
Mn = +7
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
Redox equations and half equations
Br2 (aq) + 2I- (aq) I2 (aq) + 2Br- (aq)
Br2 (aq) + 2e- + 2Br- (aq) 2I- (aq) I2 (aq) + 2e-
Br has reduced as it has gained electrons I- has oxidised as it has lost electrons
A reduction half equation An oxidation half
only shows the parts of a equation only shows the
chemical equation involved parts of a chemical
in reduction. The electrons equation involved in
are on the left oxidation. The electrons
are on the right
The oxidising agent is The reducing agent is the
Bromine water. It is an Iodide ion. It is an
electron acceptor electron donor
An oxidising agent (or A reducing agent (or When naming
oxidant) is the species that reductant) is the oxidising and
causes another element to species that causes reducing agents
oxidise. It is itself reduced another element always refer to
in the reaction. reduce. It is itself full name of
substance and
reducing agents are electron donors not just name of
element
oxidising agents are electron acceptors
Redox Reactions
When magnesium is placed into a solution of copper sulphate, a reaction occurs
which in simple terms is called a “displacement reaction”.
Chemical equation: Mg + CuSO4 MgSO4 + Cu
Ionic equation: Mg(s) + Cu2+(aq) Mg2+(aq) + Cu(s)
The copper in this reaction is taking electrons from the magnesium.
The copper gains electrons - it is REDUCED
The magnesium loses electrons - it is OXIDISED
So this is a REDOX reaction.
Whenever one substance gains an electron another substance must lose an
electron, so reduction and oxidation always go together.
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
Oxidising and reducing reagents
An oxidising agent causes another material to become oxidised. In the above
example of adding magnesium to copper sulphate, the magnesium is oxidised.
Since the copper ions in the copper sulphate cause this oxidation, they are the
oxidising agent.
In the same way the Mg causes the reduction of copper ions so it is the reducing
agent.
Mg(s) + Cu2+(aq) Mg2+(aq) + Cu(s)
reducing agent oxidising agent
In this example the oxidising agent (copper ions) is reduced and the reducing agent
(magnesium) is oxidised.
This always happens with redox reactions:- in a redox reaction the oxidising agent
is reduced and the reducing agent is oxidised.
REDUCING AGENT + MATERIAL
The reducing agent loses electrons and so is oxidised
More Redox Reactions
Metals generally form ions by losing Non-metals generally react by
electrons with an increase in gaining electrons with a decrease in
oxidation number to form positive oxidation number to form negative
ions: ions:
Zn Zn2+ + 2e- Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl-
Oxygen is reducing because its Tungsten is reducing because its
oxidation number is decreasing oxidation number is decreasing from
from 0 to -2 +6 to 0
Lithium is oxidising because its
Hydrogen is oxidising because its
oxidation number is increasing from
oxidation number is increasing from 0
0 to +1
to +1
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
Nitrogen is reducing because its oxidation Chlorine is reducing because its
number is decreasing from +5 to+4 oxidation number is decreasing from
+1 to -1
Oxygen is oxidising because its oxidation
number is increasing from -2 to 0 Nitrogen is oxidising because its
oxidation number is increasing from
Note that not all the oxygen atoms are -3 to -2
changing oxidation number in this reaction
Redox Reactions of Metals and acid
ACID + METAL SALT + HYDROGEN
Hydrogen is reducing because its Be able to write equations for
oxidation number is decreasing from reactions of metals with
+1 to 0 hydrochloric acid and sulphuric
acid
Fe + H2SO4 FeSO4 +H2
Observations: These reaction will
effervesce because H2 gas is
evolved and the metal will dissolve
Magnesium is oxidising because its
oxidation number is increasing from
0 to +2
Balancing Redox equations
Writing half equations
1. Work out oxidation numbers for element being oxidised/ reduced Zn
2+
Zn
Zn changes from 0 to +2
2. Add electrons equal to the change in oxidation number For reduction add e’s
to reactants For oxidation add e’s to products
Zn Zn2+ + 2e-
3. check to see that the sum of the charges
on the reactant side equals the sum of 0 +2-2 = 0
the charges on the product side
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
More complex Half-equations
More complex half equations can be constructed as follows:
a) Add H2O molecules to balance any oxygen atoms
b) Add H+ ions to balance any hydrogen atoms
c) Add electrons to balance any charge in the equation.
NB – To write a balanced half equation you may only add;
H2O molecules
H+ ions
OH- ions (not usually done)
Electrons
Example: Write the half equation for the change MnO4 - Mn2+
1. Balance the change in oxidation number with electrons MnO4 -
+ 5e- Mn2+
(Mn changes from +7 to +2 Add 5 electrons to reactants)
2. Add H2O in products to balance O’s in MnO4 - MnO4 - + 5e- Mn2+ +
4H2O
3. Add H+ in reactants to balance H’s in H2O MnO4 - + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+
+ 4H2O
4. check to see that the sum of the charges on
the reactant side equals the sum of the -1+8 - 5 = +2
+2
Example: Write the half equation for the change SO42- SO2
1. Balance the change in oxidation number with electrons SO42- + 2e-
SO2
(changes from +6 to +4 Add 2 electrons to reactants)
2. Add H2O in products to balance O’s in SO42-
3. Add H+ in reactants to balance H’s in H2O SO42- + 4H+ + 2e- SO2 +
2H2O
4. check to see that the sum of the charges
on the reactant side equals the sum of the -4+4 = 0
0
charges on the product side 0
Combining half equations
To combine two half equations there
To make a full redox equation combine a reduction
must be equal numbers of electrons
half equation with an oxidation half equation
in the two half equations so that the
electrons cancel out
Example 1
Reduction MnO4 - + 8H+ + 5 e- → Mn2+ + 4H2O (x2)Multiply the half equations to get
Oxidation C2O42- → 2 CO2 + 2e- (x5) equal electrons
2MnO4 - + 16 H+ + 5C2O42- → 2Mn2+ + 10CO2 + 8 H2O
Add half equations together
and cancel electrons
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
Example 2
Reduction SO42- + 10H+ + 8e- H2S+ 4H2O Multiply the half equations
to get equal electrons
Oxidation 2I- → I2 + 2e- (x4)
8I- + SO42- + 10H+ H2S+ 4I2 + 4H2O Add half equations together and
cancel electrons
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
MISS CHOHAN`S NOTES ON REDOX REACTIONS EDEXCEL UNIT 2
