OXIDATION AND REDUCTION

REDOX REACTIONS

Definition:
Chemical reactions involving
OXIDATION and REDUCTION
occurring simultaneously
Oxidation and reduction in terms of:
i. loss or gain of oxygen
ii. loss or gain of hydrogen
iii. transfer of electrons
iv. changes in oxidation number
Oxidation:
- combination of substance with oxygen
- loss of hydrogen
- loss of electrons
- an increase in oxidation number
Reduction:
- removal of oxygen from substance
- gain of hydrogen
- gain of electrons
- a decrease in oxidation number

Oxidant / Oxidizing agent:

The substance that causes oxidation
Reductant / Reducing agent:
The substance that causes reduction
Important
Neutralization and Precipitation are
NOT redox reactions
WHY? You tell me
[wait until we discuss the oxidation number]

A. Loss or gains of oxygen

Oxidation:
- combination of substance with oxygen
Reduction:
- removal of oxygen from substance
Example:

2CuO + C 2Cu + CO2

CuO loses its oxygen to form copper. Carbon gains the
oxygen to form carbon dioxide.
CuO causes the oxidation of carbon. Carbon causes the
reduction of CuO.
Material undergoes oxidation: Carbon, C
Material undergoes reduction: Copper(II) oxide, CuO
Oxidizing agent / oxidant
: Copper(II) oxide, CuO
Reducing agent / reductant : Carbon, C

B. Loss or gains of hydrogen

Oxidation:
- loss of hydrogen
Reduction:
- gain of hydrogen
Example:

H2S +

Cl2

2HCl

H2S loses its hydrogen to form sulfur. Cl2 gains the

hydrogen to form HCl.
H2S causes the reduction of Cl2. Cl2 causes the oxidation
of H2S.
Material undergoes oxidation : Hydrogen sulphide, H2S
Material undergoes reduction : Chlorine, Cl2
Oxidizing agent / oxidant
: Chlorine, Cl2
Reducing agent / reductant : Hydrogen sulphide, H2S

C. Tranfer of electrons
Oxidation:
- loss of electrons
Reduction:
- gain of electrons
Example 1: [Daniell cell]

Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu
Electrons transfer from zinc to copper(II) ions.
Half reaction:
One zinc atom loses 2 electrons to form one zinc ion.
Zinc is oxidized to zinc ions.
Oxidizing half-equation:

Zn Zn2+ + 2e-

Half reaction:
One copper(II) ion gains 2 electron to form one copper
atom. Copper(II) ion is reduced to copper.
Reduction half-equation:

Cu2+ + 2e Cu

Copper(II) ions act as oxidizing agent because it

accepts electrons.
Zinc acts as reducing agent because it releases
electrons.
Oxidizing half-equation:
Zn Zn2+ + 2eReduction half-equation: Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
[balanced the number of electron please]
Cancel the electrons

Zn + Cu2+ + 2e- Cu + Zn2+ +

Thus;
Ionic Equation

2e-

: Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu

Chemical equation:
Zn + CuSO4 ZnSO4 + Cu
[note: the sum of the two half-equations gives the
ionic equation]

D. Changes in oxidation number

Oxidation number?
Definition:
The oxidation number of an element is the
charge that the atom of the element would
have if complete transfer of electron occurs
Rules: pg 107 figure 3.1 (read)
Tips from the rules:
the oxidation number for atom and molecule is
zero
the oxidation number for monoatomic ion is
equal to its charge.
the sum of oxidation numbers of all elements in
the compound is zero
the sum of oxidation number of all elements in
polyatomic ions is equal to the charge of the ions
Oxidation:
- an increase in oxidation number
Reduction:

- a decrease in oxidation number

Example: [ I use the same example but from different perspective]

Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu
[easy way to detect which substance is oxidized or reduced]
Oxidation number

Zn2+

+2

Zn

Cu2+

Oxidation
(loses electrons)

Cu

Reduction
(gains electrons)

The oxidation number of zinc, Zn increases from

0 to +2. Zn undergoes oxidation to zinc ions, Zn2+.
The oxidation number of copper(II) ions, Cu2+ decreases
from +2 to 0. Cu2+ undergoes reduction to copper, Cu.
Copper(II) ions, Cu2+ act as oxidizing agent.
Zinc, Zn acts as reducing agent.
Oxidizing half-equation: Zn Zn2+ + 2eReduction half-equation: Cu2+ + 2e- Cu
Ionic Equation

: Zn + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu

[note: every redox reaction MUST have half equations

and ionic equation]

Example:

2Mg

O2

2MgO

Oxidation number

Mg2+

+2

Oxidation (loses electrons)

Mg

-2

O2

Reduction (gains electrons)

O2-

Describe the process..

The oxidation number of magnesium, Mg increases
from 0 to +2. Mg undergoes oxidation to magnesium
ions, Mg2+.
Oxidizing half-equation: Mg Mg2+ + 2e1 magnesium atom loses 2 electrons to from 1
mzgnesium ions. Mg undergoes oxidation to
magnesium ions, Mg2+.
The oxidation number of oxygen, O2 decreases from
0 to -2. O2 undergoes reduction to oxide ions, O2-.

Reduction half-equation:

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

1 molecule of oxygen gains 4 electron to form 2 oxide

ions. O2 undergoes reduction to oxide ions, O2-.
Oxygen, O2 act as oxidizing agent.
Magnesium, Mg acts as reducing agent.
Oxidizing half-equation: Mg Mg2+ + 2e- (2)
[it becomes: 2Mg 2Mg2+ + 4e]
Reduction half-equation:

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

[balanced the number of electrons for both half equation]

Cancel the electrons

2Mg + O2 + 4e-

2Mg2+ + 2O2- + 4e-

Thus;
Ionic Equation:
2Mg + O2

2Mg2+ + 2O2- or

2Mg + O2

2MgO

HW: pg 110 Learning task 3.1 Analyzing

[a and b] Explain each of the reaction

Solution:
(a) (i) 2H2 + O2 2H2O

[rule: pg 107]

Oxidation number

H+

+1

Oxidation (loses electrons)

H2

-2

O2
O

Reduction (gains electrons)

2-

The oxidation number of hydrogen, H2 increases from

0 to +1. H2 undergoes oxidation to hydrogen ion, H+.
Oxidizing half-equation: H2 2H+ + 2e1 molecule of hydrogen loses 2 electrons to form
2 hydrogen ions.
The oxidation number of oxygen, O2 decreases from
0 to -2. O2 undergoes reduction to oxide ions, O2-.
Reduction half-equation:

O2 + 4e- 2O2-

1 molecule of oxygen gains 4 electrons to form

2 oxide ions.
Oxygen, O2 act as oxidizing agent.
Hydrogen, H2 acts as reducing agent.
Oxidizing half-equation: H2 2H+ + 2e- (2)
Reduction half-equation: O2 + 4e- 2O2[balanced the number of electrons for both half equation]
Cancel the electrons

2H2 + O2 + 4e-

Thus;
The ionic equation
2H2 + O2
2H2 + O2

Easy lah!

Prepared by;
Kamal Ariffin Bin Saaim

4H+ + 2O2- + 4e-

4H+ + 2O2- or
2H2O

SMKDBL