Work of Hamza (Mathemagician)

Topic 1.5

Topic 1.5: Introduction to oxidation and reduction

Things to learn:

Oxidation occurs when a substance loses one or more electrons. There is an

increase in the oxidation number of the elements involved.
An oxidising agent is a substance that oxidises another substance so is itself
reduced. The half equation involving an oxidising agent has electrons on the
left-hand side, i.e. it takes electrons from the substance being oxidised.
Reduction occurs when a substance gains one or more electrons. There is a
decrease in the oxidation number of the element involved.
A reducing agent is a substance that reduces another substance and so is itself
oxidised. The half equation involving a reducing agent has electrons on the
right-hand side, i.e it gives electrons to the substance being reduced.
*** remember OIL RIG (Oxidation Is Loss, Reduction Is Gain)***

Oxidation numbers

The oxidation number is the charge on an atom of the element in a compound

calculated assuming that all the atoms in the compound are simple monatomic
ions. The more electronegative element is given an oxidation number of -1 per
bond.
There are some rules for calculating oxidation numbers. They should be
applied in the following order:
1. The oxidation number of an uncombined element is zero
2. A simple monatomic ion has an oxidation number equal to its
charge
3. The oxidation number of Group 1 metals is always +1, and of
group 2 metals, +2.
4. Fluorine always has an oxidation number of -1, hydrogen (except
in metallic hydrides) of +1, and oxygen (except in F2O and
peroxides) of -2.
5. The sum of the oxidation umbers in a molecule adds up to 0, and
those in a polyatomic ion (such as SO42-) add up to the charge on
the ion.
When an element is oxidised, its oxidation number increases.

Half equations
These are written:
Either as reduction with electrons on the left hand side of the half equation: e.g. Cl2 + 2e- 2ClHere, the chlorine is being reduced and so is acting as an oxidising
agent
Or as oxidation with electrons on the right hand side of the equation:
e.g. Fe2+ Fe3+ + eHere, iron(II) ions are being oxidised, and thus are acting as a reducing
agent.

Work of Hamza (Mathemagician)

Topic 1.5

Many oxidising agents only work in acid solution. Their half equations have
H+ ions on the left hand side and H2O on the right. This is likely with oxidising
agents containing oxygen (such as MnO4-):
e.g. MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+ + 4H2O
If a redox system is in alkaline solution, OH- may need to be on one side and
H2O on the other:
e.g. Cr3+ + 8OH- CrO42- + 4H2O + 3e-

Overall redox equations

e.g.

These are obtained by adding the half equations together

One half equation must be written as a reduction (electrons on the left) and the
other as an oxidation ( electrons on the right)
When they are added, the electrons must cancel. To achieve this, it may be
necessary to multiply one or both half equations by integers.
For the overall equation for oxidation of Fe2+ ions by MnO4- ions:

add
to 5 x

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5e- Mn2+ + 4H2O

Fe2+ Fe3+ + e-

MnO4- + 8H+ + 5Fe2+ Mn2+ + 4H2O + 5Fe3+

- Mathemagician