EXPERIMENT 2: OXIDATION-REDUCTION REACTIONS- ACTIVITY SERIES OF ACTIVITY SERIES OF NONMETALS:

METALS AND NONMETALS - NonMetals on Ionic Reactions, tend to accept electrons (CATHODE)
- We measure the strength of some Halogens based on their ability to accept electrons
Redox Reactions: Special Type of Chemical Reactions where, (CATHODIC POTENTIAL)
- Oxidation Number of Atoms Change
Why? For better compatibility in pairing (To form more stable product) Cl Most Reactive. Good Cathode, Good OA, will readily accept e- since it is electronegative
- Simultaneous Reduction and Oxidation HALF Reactions. Br
I Least Reactive, Good Anode, Good RA. Atom is too large (below the periodic table) will
-- All Single Displacement Reactions are Redox Reactions readily give electrons (Anode) since the outer electrons are too far from the nucleus. Will not
-- Even though all Single Displacement Reactions exists in Paper, not all occurs in real life. accept electrons (Cathode) since its electron cloud is large, repulsion of the incoming electron
-- We often get No Visible Results (NVR) for some of the reactions. will happen.
-- Reactivity of the Reacting Components need to be considered.
REACTION OF PERMANGANATE:
Reactivity of Metals Demonstrates that the medium in which the redox was conducted has an effect to the products of
Metals are electron rich, On reactions they tend to give off/ donate electrons the reaction
We assess the reactivity of metals based on their ability to give off electrons.
Permanganate is made to react with sodium sulfite or sulfite (SO 42-)
We observe for manifestations of redox reactions. Sulfite has only one possible reaction. In the presence of permanganate it is oxidized only to a
-- Change in the amount and color of the deposited solid/ metal single product, sulfate (SO42-)
-- Change in the color of the solution.
The Manganese of MnO4- has a charge of +7 (Highly Positive) it will undergo reduction to
Activity Series of Metals we were able to derive: lower charges. The final charge of Mn will depend on the medium of the reaction.
Zn Most Reactive. Good Anode, Good Reducing Agent. Readily Gives of electrons
Fe MnO4- ----> (basic, excess OH-) MnO42- Charge of Mn goes from +7 to +6.
H The still high positive charge is stabilized
Cu Least Reactive. Good Cathode, Good Oxiding Agent. Readily Accepts electrons. by the negative charge of the OH- anion.
MnO42- forms a green solution. It will
Explanation of the Activity Series of Metals:
remain in solution as it is charged.
Zn s2 d10 ------> Zn2+ (s0d10) + 2e- Stable Product, Filled d shell. will proceed anodically.
2 6 ----> (acidic, excess H+) Mn 2+ Charge of Mn goes from +7 to the very low
Fe s d ------> Fe2+ (s1d5) + 2e- Stable Product, Half filled shells
* +2. H+cannot stabilize and will repel
H H2
1 10 highly positive charges.
Cu sd Cu2+ (s0d9) + 2e- Cu will not lose e-s (be an Anode) to form this unstable
----> (neutral, excess H2O) MnO2 Charge of Mn goes from +7 to the average
prod.
+4. The stabilizing power of water to
The reverse cathodic process Cu 2+ + 2e- ---> Cu is
positive charges is in between that of the
readily spontaneous to stabilize the unstable ion.
base and acid. Mn+4 can react with O2- in
the solution (charge crisscross) forming a
neutral, insoluble compd.

CHEM 16: GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY EXPT 2 PLD MOLINO, R. J. E.