Unit 2:

Redox
Reactions
Reduction Oxidation
▪ Lose oxygen ▪ Gain oxygen
CuO(aq) + Zn(s) →ZnO(aq) + Cu(s)

▪ Gain hydrogen ▪ Lose hydrogen

H2S (g) + Cl2(g) → 2 HCl(g) + S(s)

▪ Lose electron ▪ Gain electron

▪ Decreasing in oxidation ▪ Increasing in oxidation state
state
W H AT I S O X I D AT I O N
S TAT E ?
OX I DAT I O N S TAT E I S A T H E
C H A R G E A N ATO M WO U L D
H AV E I F I T E X I S T E D A S I O N .
 OXIDATION STATE RULES
• The oxidation state of free elements is zero (Na, Cl 2, H2, Cu, Pb, F2, Br2, He, Fe,
etc)
• The oxidation state of all elements in group I are always +1 (in compounds)
Ex: NaCl → The O.S.N of Na in NaCl is +1

The oxidation state of all elements in group II are always +2 (in compounds)
Ex: MgCl2 → The O.S.N of Mg in MgCl2 is +2

The oxidation state of Fluorine in compounds is always -1

The oxidation state of Oxygen in compounds is always -2
The oxidation state of Hydrogen in compounds is always +1
– The Sum of the oxidation state in a compound is zero

– The oxidation state of an element in monoatomic ion is

always the same as the charge
Ex: Cl- is -1 Al3+ is +3

– The Sum of the oxidation state in a polyanion is equal to

the charge on the ion.
Example Questions:
What are the O.S.N. of the underlined
elements in the following compounds?
1.PbO2
2.Na2SO3
3.Cr2O72-
1. In each of the following equations, state which reactant has been oxidized and
which reactant has been reduced
a) PbO + H2 → Pb + H2O
b) 2 Br - +Cl2 → Br2 + 2 Cl -
c) Mg(s) + H2O(l) → MgO(s) + H2(g)
d) 2 H+ + CuO → H2O + Cu2+

2. Based on question number 1, state the oxidizing agent and reducing agent!

3. State the O.S.N of the bold and underlined atoms in these compounds or ions:
a) P2O5
b) ClO2-
c) CaCO3
d) Fe2O3
e) H3PO4
f) KMnO4
CuO(aq) + Zn(s) →ZnO(aq) + Cu(s)

Zn
CuO
H2S (g) + Cl2(g) → 2 HCl(g) + S(s)

H2S
Cl2
 Increasing in OSN

Cl2 + 2 Br → Br2 + 2 Cl
- -
Decreasing in OSN