OXIDATION & REDUCTION
Chapter 17, pg.225-240
REDOX REACTIONS 2
• A redox reaction is a reaction in which there is a transfer of electrons.
• In a redox reaction, one substance loses electrons (called oxidation)
whilst another substance gains electrons (called reduction).
0 +2 +6 −2 +2 +6 −2 0
𝑍𝑛 𝑠 + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 → 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐶𝑢 𝑠
• Oxidation numbers are used to keep track of which substance loses/gains electrons.
• The oxidation number of an atom in a compound is the charge the atom would have if
the pair of electrons in each bond belonged to the more electronegative atom.
RULES FOR DETERMINING OXIDATION NUMBERS 3
1. Any uncombined or diatomic element has an oxidation number of 0.
2. Hydrogen has an oxidation number of +1 (unless bonded with a group 𝐼 or 𝐼𝐼 metal).
3. Oxygen usually has an oxidation number of −2 (𝑂𝐹2 and 𝐻2 𝑂2 are exceptions).
4. The oxidation number of group 𝐼 and 𝐼𝐼 metals as well as silver, zinc and aluminium is
the same as their valency.
e.g.1 Write down the oxidation number of each type of atom in:
𝐻2 𝑂 𝑂2 𝑀𝑔𝑂 𝐴𝑙2 𝑂3
RULES FOR DETERMINING OXIDATION NUMBERS 4
5. For a compound (electrically neutral), the sum of the oxidation numbers is zero.
6. For a polyatomic ion, the sum of the oxidation numbers is equal to the charge on the ion.
e.g.2 Determine the oxidation number of each type of atom in:
𝐻3 𝑃𝑂4 𝐻: ___ , 𝑂: ___ , 𝑃: ___ , ∴ _________________________________
𝐶𝑙𝑂3− 𝑂: ___ , 𝐶𝑙: ___ , ∴ ________________________________________
𝐻2 𝑆 𝑆𝑂2 𝐻2 𝑆𝑂3 𝑆𝑂42−
CLASSWORK / HOMEWORK 5
• Do Think Tank 17.1, pg.228, Q 1.2 – 1.6.
THINK TANK 17.1, PG.228, Q 1.2 6
𝑵𝐻3 𝑵𝑂
𝑵𝐻4+ 𝐻𝑵𝑂3
𝑵𝑂2 𝑵𝑂3−
THINK TANK 17.1, PG.228, Q 1.3 7
𝑪𝒍2 𝐴𝑔𝑪𝒍
𝑁𝑎𝑪𝒍 𝑪𝒍𝑂−
𝐻𝑪𝒍
THINK TANK 17.1, PG.228, Q 1.4 8
𝐾𝑴𝒏𝑂4 𝐾2 𝑪𝒓2 𝑂7
𝑴𝒏𝐶𝑙2 𝑪𝒓2 𝑆𝑂4 3
𝑴𝒏𝑂2
THINK TANK 17.1, PG.228, Q 1.5 9
𝑁𝑎2 𝑺𝑂3 𝑵𝐻4 𝐶𝑙
𝑁𝑎𝐻𝑺𝑂4 𝑵𝐻4 𝑂𝐻
THINK TANK 17.1, PG.228, Q 1.6 10
𝑁𝑎𝑯 𝑁𝑎𝑩𝒓𝑂3
𝐻2 𝑶2 𝑪𝑂2
REDOX REACTIONS 11
• A redox reaction is a reaction in which there is a transfer of electrons.
• All redox reactions involve two processes: oxidation and reduction.
0 +2 +2 0
𝑍𝑛 𝑠 + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 → 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐶𝑢 𝑠
Oxidation Reduction
Definition 1: Oxidation is a loss of electrons. Reduction is a gain of electrons
Oxidation is an Reduction is a
Definition 2:
increase in oxidation number. decrease in oxidation number.
REDOX REACTIONS 12
• A redox reaction is a reaction in which there is a transfer of electrons.
• All redox reactions involve two processes: oxidation and reduction.
0 +2 +2 0
𝑍𝑛 𝑠 + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 → 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐶𝑢 𝑠
• The reducing agent is the substance that is oxidised (i.e. loses electrons), e.g.
• The oxidising agent is the substance that is reduced (i.e. gains electrons), e.g.
• A spectator ion is an ion that is NOT involved in electron transfer, e.g.
OXIDATION & REDUCTION HALF-REACTIONS 13
• An oxidation half-reaction shows:
𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 → 𝐎𝐱𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 + electrons (𝑒 − )
• A reduction half-reaction shows:
𝐎𝐱𝐢𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 + electrons (𝒆− ) → 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬
0 +2 +2 0
𝑍𝑛 𝑠 + 𝐶𝑢𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 → 𝑍𝑛𝑆𝑂4 𝑎𝑞 + 𝐶𝑢 𝑠
Oxidation ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
Reduction ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
CLASS EXAMPLE 14
For each of the examples below: a) Write down the oxidation and reduction half-reactions.
b) Write down the formula of the oxidising and reducing agents.
e.g.1 𝑆 + 𝑂2 → 𝑆𝑂2
Oxidation ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
Reduction ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
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e.g.2 𝑀𝑔 + 𝐶𝑙2 → 𝑀𝑔𝐶𝑙2
Oxidation ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
Reduction ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
e.g.3 𝑁𝑎 + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝐻2 + 𝑁𝑎𝑂𝐻
Oxidation ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
Reduction ½-rxn: ___________________________________________________
CLASSWORK / HOMEWORK 16
• Do Think Tank 17.2, pg.229-230, Q 1 – 8 [skip (iii) for each question]
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TABLE 4A & 4B: STANDARD REDUCTION POTENTIALS 18
• Tables 4A & 4B show a list of common half-reactions reduction
OAs
involving the transfer of electrons. Li+ + e− ⇌ Li
• If the half-reaction is read FORWARDS (left → right), Al3+ + 3e− ⇌ Al
then it is a reduction half-reaction. Zn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Zn
𝟐 𝐇+ + 𝟐𝐞− ⇌ 𝐇𝟐
• The substances on the LEFT are oxidising agents (OAs). 𝐠
Cu2+ + e− ⇌ Cu+
• If the half-reaction is read BACKWARDS (right → left),
Cu2+ + 2e− ⇌ Cu
then it is an oxidation half-reaction.
Cu+ + e− ⇌ Cu
• The substances on the RIGHT are reducing agents (RAs). Ag + + e− ⇌ Ag
• Note: oxidation half-reactions should still be written Cl2 g + 2e− ⇌ 2Cl−
LEFT → RIGHT (swap the LHS and RHS from the table). RAs
oxidation
BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS 19
• To balance a redox reaction equation, the number of each type of atom
AND the number of electrons must be the same on each side.
• Steps for Balancing a Redox Reaction:
1. Write out the oxidation AND reduction half-reactions using Table 4B.
Note: Ignore spectator ions.
2. Multiply each half-reaction to make the number of electrons the same.
3. Add the half-reactions together, “cancelling” where necessary.
4. When in an alkaline medium, “remove” all 𝐻 + from the equation by adding an equal
number of 𝑂𝐻 − to both sides and simplifying.
e.g.1 Balance: 𝑍𝑛 𝑠 + 𝐶𝑢2+
𝑎𝑞 → 𝐶𝑢 𝑠 + 𝑍𝑛2+
𝑎𝑞 in acidic medium.
e.g.2 Balance: 𝐹𝑒 2+ + 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− → 𝐹𝑒 3+ + 𝑀𝑛2+ in an acidic solution.
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e.g.3 Balance: 𝑆𝑂2 + 𝐶𝑟2 𝑂72− → 𝐶𝑟 3+ + 𝑆𝑂42− in alkaline medium.
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CLASSWORK / HOMEWORK 22
• Do Think Tank 17.4, pg.236-237, Q 2 – 7 [skip (i) for each question]
• Go back to Q 4 and 6 and balance in alkaline medium.
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 2 23
𝐻 + + 𝐶𝑢 + 𝑁𝑂3− → 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑢2+ + 𝑁𝑂2 𝑔
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 3 24
𝐻 + + 𝐵𝑟 − + 𝑆𝑂42− → 𝑆𝑂2 𝑔 + 𝐵𝑟2 𝑙 + 𝐻2 𝑂
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 4 25
𝐻2 𝑆 𝑔 + 𝐶𝑟2 𝑂72− → 𝐶𝑟 3+ + 𝑆 + 𝐻2 𝑂
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 5 26
𝑁𝑂3− + 𝐻2 𝑆 𝑔 → 𝑆 + 𝑁𝑂 𝑔 + 𝐻2 𝑂
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 6 27
𝐻 + + 𝐹𝑒 2+ + 𝐶𝑟2 𝑂72− → 𝐹𝑒 3+ + 𝐶𝑟 3+ + 𝐻2 𝑂
THINK TANK 17.4, PG.236-237, Q 7 28
𝑆𝑂2 𝑔 + 𝑀𝑛𝑂4− + 𝐻2 𝑂 → 𝑆𝑂42− + 𝑀𝑛2+ + 𝐻 +
STRENGTH OF OXIDISING & REDUCING AGENTS 29
• Table 4B shows the relative oxidising ability of the reduction
OAs
reducing agents (RAs) on the RIGHT. Li+ + e− ⇌ Li
STRONGER
• In other words, the higher the RA on the table, the Al3+ + 3e− ⇌ Al
Zn2+ + 2e− ⇌ Zn
stronger it is and the more likely it will be oxidised.
𝟐 𝐇+ + 𝟐𝐞− ⇌ 𝐇𝟐 𝐠
Cu2+ + e− ⇌ Cu+
• Table 4B also shows the relative reducing ability of Cu2+ + 2e−
STRONGER
⇌ Cu
the oxidising agents (OAs) on the LEFT. Cu+ + e− ⇌ Cu
Ag + + e− ⇌ Ag
• In other words, the lower the OA on the table, the
Cl2 g + 2e− ⇌ 2Cl−
stronger it is and the more likely it will be reduced.
RAs
oxidation
CLASS EXAMPLE 30
e.g.1 Use Table 4B to determine which metal is more likely to be oxidised between:
a) 𝐹𝑒 and 𝑍𝑛 b) 𝐶𝑢 and 𝐹𝑒 c) 𝐴𝑔 and 𝑃𝑏
e.g.2 Use Table 4B to determine which substance is more likely to be reduced between:
a) 𝐶𝑙2 and 𝐹2 b) 𝑁𝑖 2+ and 𝑆𝑛4+ c) 𝐶𝑜 2+ and 𝑀𝑛2+
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