Unit I: Oxidation Number
Electrochemistry • Pertains to the number of charges an atom
Oxidation-Reduction Reaction
• A reaction that involves electron transfer.
• Redox reactions can be found everywhere, in
burning of fossil fuels and processes in the
body. The reaction in batteries is a redox
reaction.
Oxidizing and Reducing Agents
• Oxidation is loss of electrons
• Reduction is gain of electrons
O I L – R I G
• It is a redox reaction when there is a
change in the oxidation number.
• The redox reaction happens spontaneously.
Rules in Assigning Oxidation Numbers
Half-Reactions
• Either the reduction or oxidation reaction.
• It is used to describe what occurs in an
electrochemical cell.
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would acquire in a molecule if there is a
complete transfer of electrons.
• With the help of oxidation numbers, we can
determine the:
o Oxidized element
o Reduced element
o Reducing agent
o Oxidizing agent
• Oxidizing Agent
o It oxidizes other substances and
gains electron; it also contains atoms
that are reduced.
o The reactant that contains the
reduced element.
• Reducing Agent
o It reduces other substances and
loses electrons; it also contains
atoms that are oxidized.
o The reactant that has the oxidized
elements.
• The element that has an increase in oxidation
number is oxidized. While the element that
has a decrease in its oxidation number is
reduced.
1. Oxidation number of free elements is always
0.
2. The oxidation number of monatomic ions is
equal to the charge of the ion.
3. The oxidation number of Oxygen is -2 unless
it is in a peroxide molecule.
4. The oxidation number of Hydrogen is +1,
except when it is bonded with metals, the
oxidation number is -1.
5. The oxidation number of Fluorine is -1 in all
compounds.
6. The sum of the oxidation numbers of a
neutral molecule is always equal to 0.
Solving for Oxidation Numbers
• Assign oxidation number to the elements in
the compound.
• Write an algebraic expression based on the
given. The element with the missing oxidation
number will serve as x.
• Equate the expression into the charge of the
ion.
• Solve the equation.
• Hydrogen is a diatomic element;
therefore, the oxidation number is still
0.
Balancing Redox Reactions
• The Ion-electron method is used in balancing
redox reactions.
• The Ion-electron method is used in balancing
redox reactions.

Example 1: Step 1: Write the unbalanced equation in ionic form.

1. 𝑀𝑛𝑂4 − 𝑍𝑛 + 𝐴𝑔+ → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 𝐴𝑔

• 𝑥 + 4(−2) = −1
• 𝑥 + (−8) = −1
• 𝑥=7 Step 2: Separate the equations into two half-
reactions.
• The element with missing oxidation number
is Mn. 𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+
• Mn will serve as X and Oxygen is multiplies
𝐴𝑔+ → 𝐴𝑔
by -2 since the oxidation number of Oxygen
is -2. Step 3: Balance each half reactions in terms of
• The expression is equal to the charge of the
charge, numbers, and type of atoms.
ion which is -1.

Example 2: 𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+2𝑒 −

2. 𝐶𝑟2 𝑂7 2− 𝑒 −𝐴𝑔+ → 𝐴𝑔
• 2𝑥 + 7(−2) = −2
• 2𝑥 + (−14) = −2 Step 4: Add the two half-reactions and balance the
• 2𝑥 = 14 + (−2) final equation. Th electrons must cancel on both half-
2𝑥 12
• = reactions. It can be multiplied to a number to
2 2
• 𝑥=6 equalize the number of electrons.

𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+2𝑒 −
• The element with missing oxidation number
is Cr.
(𝑒 − 𝐴𝑔+ → 𝐴𝑔)2
• There are 2 Cr elements, therefore, it is 2x 𝑍𝑛 + 2𝐴𝑔+ → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 2𝐴𝑔
plus the product of 7 oxygens and its
oxidation number (-2).
• The equation is equal to the charge of the
ion, -2. Step 5: Check if the equation has same number and
• Solve the equation accordingly. type of atoms as well as same number of electrons
on both sides
Example 3 and 4:

3. 𝐴𝑢 = 0 𝑍𝑛 + 2𝐴𝑔+ → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 2𝐴𝑔

4. 𝐻2 = 0
+2 +2
• Zn is one on both sides
• The oxidation numbers are O since free • Ag is 2 on both sides
• The charge is equal on both sides
elements has an oxidation number of 0.

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Examples: Under Basic Conditions

1. 𝑀𝑔 + 𝐹𝑒 2+ → 𝑀𝑔2+ + 𝐹𝑒 • Allowed to add 𝐻2 𝑂 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑂𝐻 − in each

half-reaction.
𝑀𝑔 → 𝑀𝑔2+ + 2𝑒 −
2𝑒 − + 𝐹𝑒 2+ → 𝐹𝑒 Examples:
𝑀𝑔 + 𝐹𝑒 2+ → 𝑀𝑔2+ + 𝐹𝑒 1. 𝐹𝑒 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂− → 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)2 + 𝐶𝑙−

• Balance the atoms and charges

• Cancel the electrons on both half-
2𝑂𝐻 − + 𝐹𝑒 → 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)2 + 2𝑒 −
reactions.
• Add the half-reactions 2𝑒 − + 𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂 − → 𝐶𝑙− + 2𝑂𝐻 −

𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂 − + 𝐹𝑒 → 𝐶𝑙− + 𝐹𝑒(𝑂𝐻)2

2. 𝐴𝑙 + 𝐶𝑢2+ → 𝐴𝑙3+ + 𝐶𝑢
2. 𝐼 − + 𝐶𝑙𝑂3 − → 𝐼3 − + 𝐶𝑙
3+ −
2(𝐴𝑙 → 𝐴𝑙 + 3𝑒 )
3(2𝑒 − + 𝐶𝑢2+ → 𝐶𝑢 3(3𝐼 − → 𝐼3 − + 2𝑒 − )
2𝐴𝑙 + 3𝐶𝑢2+ → 2𝐴𝑙3+ + 3𝐶𝑢 6𝑒 − + 3𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂3 − → 𝐶𝑙− + 6𝑂𝐻 −
3𝐻2 𝑂 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂3 − + 9𝐼 − → 𝐶𝑙− + 3𝐼 − + 6𝑂𝐻 −

Under Acidic Conditions

• You can add 𝐻 + 𝑜𝑟 𝐻2 𝑂 in the half-reactions. Electrochemistry
Examples: • It is the study of electricity and its relation
to chemical reactions. All electrochemical
1. 𝐵𝑟𝑂3 − + 𝑍𝑛 → 𝐵𝑟 −1 + 𝑍𝑛2+ reactions are redox reactions.
• It deals with the production of electricity
3(𝑍𝑛 → 𝑍𝑛2+ + 2𝑒 − ) form chemical reactions.
• It involves the movements of electrons in a
6𝑒 − + 𝐵𝑟𝑂3 − + 6𝐻 + → 𝐵𝑟 − + 3𝐻2 𝑂) reaction.

3𝑍𝑛 + 𝐵𝑟𝑂3 − + 6𝐻 + → 3𝑍𝑛2+ + 𝐵𝑟 − + 3𝐻2 𝑂 Classification of Electrochemical Cells

• Electrolytic Cells – converts electrical

2. 𝐴𝑙 + 𝐶𝑙𝑂 → 𝐴𝑙
− 3+
+ 𝐶𝑙 − energy into chemical energy. It causes
nonspontaneous chemical reactions to occur.
• Voltaic Cells – energy released is converted
2(𝐴𝑙 → 𝐴𝑙3+ + 3𝑒 − ) into electrical energy. It produces
spontaneous chemical reactions.
3(2𝑒 − + 𝐶𝑙𝑂 − + 2𝐻 + → 𝐶𝑙− + 𝐻2 𝑂)

3𝐶𝑙𝑂 − + 6𝐻 + + 2𝐴𝑙 → 2𝐴𝑙3+ + 3𝐶𝑙 − + 3𝐻2 𝑂

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Electrodes Corrosion Process

• A solid conductor that carries electric

current to into non-metallic solids, liquids,
gases etc.
• Anode – the electrode where the oxidation
occurs. The anode is the negative electrode.
• Cathode – the electrode where the
reduction half-reaction occurs.
• The electrons travel from the anode to the
cathode, as a result the surroundings of the
cathode tends to become more negative.
Examples:
Conduction Processes

• Metallic conduction – charge conducted

through metals and electrolytes.
• Electrolytic Conduction – movement of ions
through a solution of pure liquid.

Voltaic or Galvanic Cells

• Electrochemical cells that produces energy

as spontaneous redox reaction takes place.
• Electron transfer occurs in an external
circuit.
• Examples are the batteries used in
flashlights.

Pnemonics

• CATRED – Cathode, Reduction

• ANOX – Anode, Oxidation

Corrosion

• A redox process in which metals return to

their original oxidation states. Metals are
oxidized by oxygen with the presence of
moisture.

Methods to prevent metals from oxidizing

• Applying Paint
• Using a protective film, such as a metal oxide
to form on the surface.
• Galvanizing, or coating the steel with zinc