Redox Reactions
The chemical changes that occur when electrons are
transferred between reactants are called oxidation
reduction reactions
Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation means:
- originally meant combining with oxygen
- iron rusting (iron + oxygen)
Reduction means:
- originally meant the loss of oxygen from
a compound
- removing iron from iron ore ( iron II
oxide)
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Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation means:
- a complete loss of electrons
Reduction means:
- a complete gain of electrons
Oxidation reactions are always accompanied by a reduction reaction
Oxidising and Reducing
Agents
The substance that donates electrons
in a redox reaction is the reducing
agent.
The substance that takes electrons in
a redox reaction is the oxidising
agent.
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Oxidation is
Reduction is
the loss of electrons
the gain of electrons
an increase in oxidation state
a decrease in oxidation state
the addition of oxygen
the loss of oxygen
the loss of hydrogen
the addition of hydrogen
2 Mg + O2 2 MgO
notice the Mg is losing electrons to
form Mg2+ in MgO
MgO + H2 Mg + H2O
notice the Mg2+ in MgO is gaining
electrons
Assigning Oxidation Numbers (ON)
Oxidation States
Oxidation states are numbers assigned to atoms that reflect the
net charge an atom would have if the electrons in the chemical
bonds involving that atom were assigned to the more
electronegative atoms.
Oxidation states can be thought of as imaginary charges. They
are assigned according to the following set of rules:
Rule Number #1
The ON of a simple ion is equal to its
ionic charge
+1
+2
Na + Cu 2+ N3-
-3
Rule Number #2
The ON of hydrogen is always +1,
except in metal hydrides like NaH where
it is 1
+1
HCl NaH
-1
Rule Number #3
The ON of oxygen is always 2 except in
peroxides like X2O2 where it is 1
H2O
-2
H2O2
-1
Rule Number #4
The ON of an uncombined element is
always zero
0
Na
0
Cu
0
N2
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Rule Number #5
For any neutral(zero charge) compound, the
sum of the ONs is always zero
+4-2
CO2
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Rule Number #6
For a complex ion, the sum of the ONs
equals the charge of the complex ion
+7 -2
MnO41-
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Examples - assigning oxidation numbers
Assign oxidation states to all elements:
H2
SO3
SO42-
K+
NH3
MnO4-
Cr2O72-
CH3OH
PO43-
ClO3-
HSO3-
Cu
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Change in Oxidation Number
an increase in oxidation number of an atom
signifies oxidation
+2 to +4
a decrease in oxidation number of an atom
signifies reduction
0 to -1
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Identifying Redox Reactions
Oxidation and reduction always occur together
in a chemical reaction. For this reason, these
reactions are called redox reactions.
Although there are different ways of
identifying a redox reaction, the best is to look
for a change in oxidation state:
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+2 = Oxidation
OA
+2 -1
SnCl2
+4 -1
+4 -1
+2 -1
PbCl4
SnCl4
+ PbCl2
RA
-2 = Reduction
-3 = Reduction
RA
+2 -2
+1
+5 -2
+2
CuS + H+
+ NO3-
Cu+2
+2 -2
+ NO
+1 -2
H2O
OA
+2 = Oxidation
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Examples - labeling redox reactions
In
each reaction, look for changes in oxidation state.
If
changes occur, identify the substance being reduced, and the
substance being oxidized.
Identify
the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent.
= +1 (H is oxidized) (reducing agent)
+2 -2
+1 -2
H2 + CuO Cu + H2O
= -2 (Cu is reduced) (oxidizing agent)
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Try These!!
+1 = Fe 2+ is oxidized (reducing agent)
5 Fe2+ + MnO4- + 8 H+ 5 Fe3+ + Mn2+ + 4 H2O
- 5 = Mn 7+ is reduced (oxidizing agent)
+2 = Zn 0 is oxidized (reducing agent)
Zn + 2 HCl ZnCl2 + H2
- 1 = H 1+ is reduced (oxidizing agent)
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How to write net ionic equations
1) write a balanced equation
Cu(s) + 2NaCl(aq)
2Na(s) + CuCl2
(aq)
2) Ionize any aqueous substances
Cu(s) + 2Na1+(aq) 2Cl1-(aq)
2Na(s) + Cu2+
(aq)
2Cl 1-
(aq)
3) Remove any like substances (spectators)
Cu(s) + 2Na1+(aq) 2Cl1-(aq)
2Na(s) + Cu2+
(aq)
2Cl 1-
(aq)
4) Sum up whats left
The Net
is really
CuIonic+Equation
2Na1+(the reaction
that
2Na
+ occurring)
Cu2+
(s)
(aq)
(s)
(aq)
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Oxidation
Reduction Table
Strongest Oxidizing Agent
Weakest Reducing Agent
Ba 2+ (aq)
Ba (s)
Ca 2+ (aq)
Ca (s)
Mg 2+ (aq)
Mg (s)
Al 3+ (aq)
Al (s)
Zn 2+ (aq)
Zn (s)
Cr 3+ (aq)
Cr (s)
Fe 2+ (aq)
Fe (s)
Cd 2+ (aq)
Cd (s)
Tl + (aq)
Tl (s)
Co 2+ (aq)
Co (s)
Ni 2+ (aq)
Ni (s)
Sn 2+ (aq)
Sn (s)
Cu 2+ (aq)
Cu (s)
Hg 2+ (aq)
Hg (s)
Ag 2+ (aq)
Ag (s)
Pt 2+ (aq)
Pt (s)
Au 1+ (aq)
Au (s)
Weakest Oxidizing Agent
Strongest Reducing Agent
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Spontaneous Reaction
Compare Reducing Agents
Loses 2 e -
Pt (s)
Sn 2+ (aq)
Pt 2+ (aq)
Sn (s)
Gains 2 e-
Stronger
Reducing
Agent
Stronger
Oxidizing
Agent
Compare Oxidizing Agents
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Non Spontaneous Reaction
Loses 2 e
Mg (s)
Compare Reducing Agents
Fe2+ (aq)
Mg 2+ (aq)
Fe (s)
Gains 2 eCompare Oxidizing Agents
Stronger
Oxidizing
Agent
Stronger
Reducing
Agent
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Balancing Redox Equations
There are two methods used to balance
redox reactions
1)the oxidation number change
method
2)the half reaction method (not covered)
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These methods are based on the fact that
the total number of electrons gained in
reduction must equal the total number of
electrons lost in oxidation
Redox reactions are often quite complicated and
difficult to balance. For this reason, youll learn a
step-by-step method for balancing these types of
reactions, when they occur in acidic or in basic
solutions.
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Oxidation Number Change Method
Balance the following: Fe2O3 + CO
1)Assign ON to all atoms
+3 -2 +2 -2
Fe2O3 + CO
Fe + CO2
0 +4 -2
Fe + CO2
2)Identify which atoms are oxidized and which are reduced
-3 (Fe reduced)
+3 -2 +2 -2
Fe2O3 + CO
0 +4 -2
Fe + CO2
+2 (C oxidized)
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3) Make the total increase in oxidation number equal the total
decrease in oxidation number by using appropriate coefficients
on the reactant side only.
-3 (x 2 atoms) = 6 electrons gained
+3 -2 +2 -2
Fe2O3 + 3CO
0 +4 -2
Fe + CO2
+2 (X 3 atoms) = 6 electrons lost
4) Finally check to be sure that the equation is balanced both for
atoms and charge.
Fe2O3 + 3CO
2 Fe + 3CO2
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Redox Reactions - Whats Happening?
Zinc is added to a blue
solution of copper(II)
sulfate
Zn
The blue colour
disappearsthe zinc
metal dissolves, and
solid copper metal
precipitates on the zinc
strip
The zinc is oxidized
(loses electrons)
The copper ions are
reduced (gain
electrons)
(s) + CuSO4 (aq) ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
Zn (s) + Cu2+ (aq) Zn2+ (aq) + Cu (s)
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Copper ions (Cu2+)
collide with the zinc
metal surface
A zinc atom (Zn)
gives up two of its
electrons to the
copper ion
The result is a
neutral atom of Cu
deposited on the
zinc strip, and a
Zn2+ ion released
into the solution
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