Oxidation and Reduction

Redon reactions involve the transfer of electrons

from one chemical species to another

REDOX
2

REDUCTION OXIDATION
the process where one the process where one
of the reactants gains of the reactants loses
electrons electrons

NOTE a
really common way to remember these processes
are with the mnemonic 0 I L R I 9
Oxidation Is Losing Reduction Is Gaining

Example
2Mges t 02cg 2mg es
This here is a redone reaction whilst you won't
Understand it now it will become clearer soon
These reactions are made from half equations which
show what is happening as the electrons are
transferred in a redone reaction
The half equations for the redone reactionabove are
Oxidation Reduction
Mgcs Mg't the 02cg t4e 2026
This shows that each Ngos This shows that each 0 op
has LOST 2 electrons has GAINED 2 electrons

Based these two half equations we can re create

on
the overall equation as seen above
Overall equations don't show any electrons transferred
Rules for overall equations
1 NO of atoms in products NO atoms in reactants
2 Total charge on
product side total charge on

reactant side

How to write anoverall equations with half

equations with the half equations above we can
make an overall equations
Steps
1 Mg Css Mg t 2e first we gotta balance
the charges
02 cop t 4e s 202 es

XL LMges s 2Mgates the

02cg t 4 e 20h es
 with these new half
2 LMges s 2Mgates the equations we gotta
add themtogetherto make
02cg t 4 e 20h es an overall equation

2Mgcsst 02cg 2mg thots

combined
i overall equation 2Mgcs 02cg 2mgOcs

Quick theory what are oxidising and reducing agents

Oxidising agentConidant They are species that cause

another species to oxidised
be whilst they
themselves undergo reduction

Reducing agentCReductant They are a species that

cause another species to be reduced while they
themselves through onidation
go
Oxidation Numbers
 Example Identifying Okidation numbers
th Intl
Mg OH 2 overall charge 2 2 2 2 1 0
3
overall charge
Alcly let the charge of CI K
i t3t4r I 4u 4 K 1 charge of Cle 1

Note the skills learned here can be used to identify

Okidation and reduction in redone equations

Example Use ouidation numbers to identify ouidation

and reduction in a reaction

2 2 O O ti 2
voes t Ha egg Cues t 420cm

This shill can also be used to identify whether

a reaction is a redone reaction

Example
31 1 H I 3 1I I
NHzeg t HC1cg 2N Hacks

As there is no change the in onidation numbers

this is not a redone reaction
 Example Identifying Conjugate redou pairs

0 l reversible th O
Zn t 2
es
Agt Cag reaction
2n2tcag t
2Ages
reducing ouidising condugate condugate
ouidising reducing
agent agent agent agent

Real life enamples of Redon reaetrons

When Fireworks are

triggered
These substances usually contain
magnesium metal which burns with
an intense light to produce a white
ionic solution called magnesium
onide

Ouidatron Reduction
Moyes Mghtes the 02cg t4e 202es

Overall equation 2Mges t 02cg 2mgOcs

 Brethalysers when detecting
ethanol levels in breath
colour change

Ethanol reacts with an

acidified solution of potassium

dichromate Kkr O forming Crest ions and ethanoic
acid
Overallequation
crzoih cagst3CHgctkOH.gg lbHt74Cr3 t3CHzCU0HcaqstllH2O

Photochromic lenses use reversible

redou reactions as
they
darken when euposed to bright
light

Ouidation Reduction
CI CI te
Agt te Ag
Writing Complete Redon Equations

To balance redou half equations in ACIDIC or

Neutral conditions use the K O H E S method

Xample Balance Mn04 Mn in an acid condition

ki balance key atoms

Mn04 Mnat

0 balance ouygen atoms O by adding Hao

MuOy s Un't t 4 Hao

H add Ht to balance the unbalanced H atoms

Mn 04 t 8 Ht s Nn t 4h20

E add electrons to balance the charge

Mn Oy1991 tf Htt Se Mn htt 4 H2O l

ag 99

s add States t
To balance redou half equations in Alkaline or base
conditions we can use a modified K O H E S method

Example Balance Mn04 Mn't in an Alkaline condito

Ki balance key atoms

MuOy Must

0 balance ouygen atoms O by adding Hao

MuOy s Un't t 4 Hao

H Instead of Ht we use OH to balance H Also

note that adding 1 Hao to one side and adding
1 OH to another side is equivalent to adding
Ht to the first side we add H2O to LHS and
Ott on RHS

My 04 t 8h20 s Un't t4 H2O t 801 1

cancel out water molecules

Mn 04 t 4h20 s Un't t 8 OH
E add Electrons to balance the charges

Mully t 4h20Ct t Se Mitt 804

Cag Ggg 99

s add States t