Redox Reactions

Students should be able to:1.

2.

explain redox reactions in terms of electron transfer and

changes in oxidation state
deduce balanced equations for redox reactions from
relevant half equations

Oxidation and reduction can be defined in two ways

Oxidation
1. A loss of an electron or
electrons of a free element or an
atom in a compound
2. An increase in the oxidation
state (number) of a free element
or an atom in a compound

Reduction
1. A gain of an electron or
electrons for an element or an
atom in a compound
2. A decrease in the oxidation
state (number) of a free element
or an atom in a compound

What is a redox reaction?

All redox reactions exist when an element or a compound
experiences a change in their oxidation state going from the left
hand side of the equation to the right hand side.
For example
0

+1 -1

(-3)
+3 -1

Al + HCl AlCl3 + H2

The Al goes from 0 to +3, therefore it

has been oxidized, while the H in HCl
goes from +1 to 0 therefore HCl has
been reduced.

Oxidation and reduction ALWAYS occur at the same time in a

chemical reaction. If one substance is oxidized, some other
substance must be reduced. Remember the substance oxidized is
the REDUCING AGENT and the substance reduced is the
OXIDISING AGENT.

In rare cases when an element or compound is simultaneously

oxidized and reduced in the same chemical reaction, this is called
disproportionation.
+1

-1

+2

(+2)
-1

e.g. CuCl Cu + CuCl2

How to write full balanced equations using two half equations
1.
2.

3.

4.
5.
6.

e.g.

In equations, electrons are present.

When combining two equations, one must ensure the
number of electrons involved are the same for both
equations.
This is done by multiplying one or both equations by an
integer to make the number of electrons equal in both
equations.
When this is done, all the species in the equation would be
multiplied by that integer chosen.
Combine the two half equations without adding the
electrons and you are done!
Remember the full equation must have the same total
charge on both sides!!!
I
II

Cr2O72- + 14H+ + 6e- 2Cr3+ + 7H2O

Fe2+ - e- Fe3+

Equation I has 6 electrons involved and equation II has 1 electron

involved. Therefore equation II is multiplied by 6 to have 6
electrons involved.
Therefore equation II changes to: 6Fe2+ - 6e- 6Fe3+
Combining both equations and removing the electrons
would give:6Fe2+ + Cr2O72- + 14H+ 6Fe3+ + 2Cr3+ + 7H2O
END OF REDOX REACTIONS