Redox Reaction

Introduction and Discussion of Theories

Oxidation-Reduction Reactions
REDOX (REDUCTION–OXIDATION) IS A TYPE OF CHEMICAL REACTION THAT
INVOLVES A TRANSFER OF ELECTRONS BETWEEN TWO SPECIES, IN WHICH THE
OXIDATION NUMBER OF A MOLECULE, ATOM, OR ION CHANGES BY GAINING OR LOSING AN
ELECTRON. REDOX REACTIONS ARE COMMON AND VITAL TO SOME OF THE BASIC
FUNCTIONS OF LIFE, INCLUDING PHOTOSYNTHESIS, RESPIRATION, COMBUSTION, AND
CORROSION OR RUSTING.WE CAN DESCRIBE THE MOVEMENT OF ELECTRONS BETWEEN
ATOMS USING THE WORDS; OXIDATION IS THE LOSS OF ELECTRONS OR AN INCREASE IN
THE OXIDATION STATE OF AN ATOM, AN ION, OR OF CERTAIN ATOMS IN A MOLECULE AND
REDUCTION IS THE GAIN OF ELECTRONS OR A DECREASE IN THE OXIDATION STATE OF AN
ATOM, AN ION, OR OF CERTAIN ATOMS IN A MOLECULE (A REDUCTION IN OXIDATION
STATE). SIMPLE WAYS TO REMEMBER THIS INCLUDE THE MNEMONIC DEVICES OIL RIG,
MEANING "OXIDATION IS LOSS" AND "REDUCTION IS GAIN," AND LEO SAYS GER, MEANING
"LOSS OF ELECTRONS = OXIDATION" AND "GAIN OF ELECTRONS= REDUCED." ONE
EXAMPLE OF REDOX REACTION IS TABLE SALT, CHEMICALLY CONSIST OF 2 ELEMENTS
SODIUM (Na) AND CHLORIDE (Cl), THIS TWO IONS STICKS TOGETHER BECAUSE THEY HAVE
OPPOSITE CHARGES AND OPPOSITE CHARGES ATTRACT. AT FIRST THIS TWO IONS
DOESN’T HAVE ANY CHARGES, BUT THE MOMENT SODIUM (Na) LOSE ELECTRONS WHILE
CHLORINE (Cl) GAINS ELECTRONS. IN THIS REACTION THE SODIUM IS OXIDIZED;
FUNCTIONS AS REDUCING AGENT SINCE IT PROVIDES ELECTRON TO CHLORINE WHILE
CHLORINE FUNCTIONS AS OXIDIZING AGENT AS IT REMOVES ELECTRONS FROM THE
SODIUM. WE CAN KEEP TRACK OF THE CHANGES DURING THE REACTION THROUGH
OXIDATION NUMBERS IS A NUMBER THAT IS ASSIGNED TO AN ATOM IN A SUBSTANCE. THE
OXIDATION NUMBER COULD BE POSITIVE, NEGATIVE, OR ZERO, AND IT INDICATES IF
ELECTRONS ARE LOST OR GAINED. IN OTHER WORDS, THE OXIDATION NUMBER IS A
NUMBER THAT HELPS US KEEP TRACK OF ELECTRONS IN AN ATOM. IF THE OXIDATION
NUMBER IS POSITIVE, THEN THIS MEANS THAT THE ATOM LOSES ELECTRONS, AND IF IT
IS NEGATIVE, IT MEANS THE ATOM GAINS ELECTRONS. IF IT IS ZERO, THEN THE ATOM
NEITHER GAINS NOR LOSES ELECTRONS.

RULES FOR ASSIGNING OXIDATION NUMBERS

RULE 1: IN ITS PURE ELEMENTAL FORM, AN ATOM HAS AN OXIDATION NUMBER OF
ZERO.PURE ELEMENT IS AN ATOM THAT IS NOT COMBINED WITH ANY OTHER ELEMENTS
RULE 2: THE OXIDATION NUMBER OF AN ION IS THE
SAME AS ITS CHARGE. AN ION IS AN ATOM WITH A
CHARGE DUE TO THE GAIN OR LOSS OF ELECTRONS.
FOR THE BROMINE ION, THE CHARGE IS -1, SO THE
OXIDATION NUMBER IS -1. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT IF ONLY A POSITIVE (+) OR NEGATIVE (-) IS
SHOWN, THE CHARGE IS ASSUMED TO BE +1 OR -1.
RULE 3: THE OXIDATION NUMBER OF METALS IS +1 IN
GROUP 1 AND +2 IN GROUP 2. IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE
THAT ALTHOUGH HYDROGEN IS IN GROUP 1, HYDROGEN IS
NOT A METAL, SO HYDROGEN IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS
RULE. RULE 4: HYDROGEN HAS TWO POSSIBLE OXIDATION
NUMBERS: +1 AND -1, HYDROGEN HAS AN OXIDATION
NUMBER OF +1 WHEN IT IS BONDED TO NON-METALS, WHILE AN OXIDATION NUMBER OF -1
WHEN IT IS BONDED TO A METAL. RULE 5: OXYGEN HAS THREE POSSIBLE OXIDATION
NUMBERS: +2, -2 AND -1. IN GENERAL, OXYGEN HAS AN OXIDATION NUMBER OF -2. THE
ONLY EXCEPTIONS ARE PEROXIDES, WHERE OXYGEN HAS AN OXIDATION NUMBER OF -1,
AND IN THE COMPOUND OF OXYGEN DIFLUORIDE, WHERE IT HAS AN OXIDATION NUMBER
OF +2. RULE 6: THE OXIDATION NUMBER OF FLUORINE IN ANY COMPOUND IS -1
A FEW EXAMPLES OF FLUORINE-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS ARE HYDROGEN FLUORIDE OR
HYDROFLUORIC ACID, SULFUR HEXAFLUORIDE, AND SODIUM FLUORIDE. THE OXIDATION
NUMBER OF FLUORINE IN EACH OF THESE COMPOUNDS IS -1.
RULE 7: FOR THE OTHER HALOGENS (CL, BR, I), THE USUAL OXIDATION NUMBER IS -1,
EXCEPT WHEN THEY ARE COMBINED WITH OXYGEN OR FLUORINE. RULE 8: THE SUM OF
THE OXIDATION NUMBERS IN A NEUTRAL COMPOUND IS EQUAL TO ZERO.

A HALF REACTION IS EITHER THE OXIDATION OR REDUCTION REACTION COMPONENT OF A

REDOX REACTION. IT IS OBTAINED BY CONSIDERING THE CHANGE IN OXIDATION STATES
OF INDIVIDUAL SUBSTANCES INVOLVED IN THE REDOX REACTION AND ARE OFTEN USED
AS A METHOD OF BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS.
FOR EXAMPLE:
 Fe2+ → Fe3+ + E- BECOMES 2Fe2+ → 2Fe3+ + 2e-
 IS ADDED TO Cl2 + 2e- → 2Cl-
 AND FINALLY BECOMES Cl2 + 2Fe2+ → 2Cl- + 2Fe3+

EXAMPLES OF REDOX REACTIONS;

N2(g)+3H2(g)=2NH3(g)

THE HABER PROCESS IS USED IN THE MANUFACTURING OF AMMONIA FROM NITROGEN

AND HYDROGEN, AND THEN GOES ON TO EXPLAIN THE REASONS FOR THE CONDITIONS
USED IN THE PROCESS. THE PROCESS COMBINES NITROGEN FROM THE AIR WITH
HYDROGEN DERIVED MAINLY FROM NATURAL GAS (METHANE) INTO AMMONIA. THE
REACTION IS REVERSIBLE AND THE PRODUCTION OF AMMONIA IS EXOTHERMIC.

Zn+2Fe3+⟶Zn2++2Fe2+

THE HALF-EQUATIONS ARE

Zn⟶Zn2++2e−Zn⟶Zn2++2e−OXIDATION—LOSS OF ELECTRONS
2e−+2Fe3+⟶2Fe2+ REDUCTION—GAIN OF ELECTRONS

SINCE ZINC METAL (ZN) HAS DONATED ELECTRONS, WE CAN IDENTIFY IT AS THE

REDUCING AGENT. CONVERSELY, SINCE IRON(III) ION (FE3+) HAS ACCEPTED ELECTRONS,
WE IDENTIFY IT AS THE OXIDIZING AGENT. AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD OF
IDENTIFICATION IS TO NOTE THAT SINCE ZINC HAS BEEN OXIDIZED, THE
OXIDIZING AGENT MUST HAVE BEEN THE OTHER REACTANT, NAMELY, IRON(III). ALSO,
SINCE THE IRON(III) ION HAS BEEN REDUCED, THE ZINC MUST BE THE REDUCING AGENT.
OBSERVE ALSO THAT BOTH THE OXIDIZING AND REDUCING AGENTS ARE
THE REACTANTS AND THEREFORE APPEAR ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE OF AN EQUATION.

OBJECTIVE
  TO IDENTIFY OXIDIZING OR REDUCING AGENTS IN CHEMICAL REACTION BASED ON
CHANGES IN OXIDATION NUMBERS ACROSS THE CHEMICAL CHANGE.
 OBSERVE A REDUCTION OXIDATION PROCESS
 UNDERSTAND QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS

LIST OF APPARATUS
I. 125 ML ERLENMEYER FLASK

II. BURETTE

III. 250 AND 100 ML BEAKER

IV. FUNNEL

V. RING STAND

VI. 5 ML HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

VII. 12 ML OF DISTILLED WATER

VIII. 10 ML SULFURIC ACID H2SO4

IX. POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE SOLUTION

PROCEDURE/EXPERIMENT:

A. STANDARDIZATION OF PERMANGANATE SOLUTION USE DISTILLED WATER AT

ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE EXPERIMENT. PLACE ABOUT 10 ML SULFURIC
ACID H2SO4, DISTILLED WATER H2O, INTO THE FLASKS.
B. RINSE THE BURET 3X TIMES WITH PERMANGANATE TO WASH OUT THE
IMPURITIES DISPOSE UR WASTE USING 250 ML BEAKER.
C. SET UP A BURET WITH KMNO4 SOLUTION, FILL THE BURET TO THE ZERO
LINE AND MAKE SURE THERE IS NO AIR BUBBLE IN THE TIP.
D. DISSOLVE EACH ACID SAMPLE IN ABOUT 25 ML OF DISTILLED WATER. DON'T
MIX UP THE SAMPLES.
CAUTION! CONCENTRATED SULFURIC ACID IS DANGEROUS; DON'T SPILL OR SPLASH ANY.
ALWAYS SLOWLY ADD ACID TO WATER, NEVER THE OTHER WAY AROUND.
E. READ THE LEVEL IN THE PERMANGANATE BURET (TO HUNDREDTHS OF AN
ML).THE INITIAL READING AND THEN ADD THE SOLUTION SLOWLY FROM THE
BURET INTO THE FLASK WITH THE WARMED ACID SAMPLE WITH CONSTANT
STIRRING.THE EQUIVALENCE POINT IS THE FIRST APPEARANCE OF A PINK
COLOR (EXCESS MNO4 - ) THAT LASTS, WITH STIRRING, FOR 30 SECONDS.
WHEN THIS IS OBTAINED, READ THE BURET AGAIN, THE FINAL READING.

OBSERVATION

POTASSIUM PERMANGANATE (KMNO4) IT CAN BE USED FOR A

VARIETY OF PURPOSES AND ALTHOUGH HAZARDOUS IN CONCENTRATED
SOLUTIONS IT IS RELATIVELY SAFE IN SMALL CONCENTRATIONS. IT IS BEST
KNOWN FOR ITS DEEP PURPLE COLOR THAT CAN BE SEEN WITH THE NAKED EYE
AT LOW CONCENTRATIONS. IT DISSOLVES IN WATER AS A STRONG ELECTROLYTE
TO GIVE K+ AND MNO4 - IONS. MANGANESE IS IN THE +7 OXIDATION STATE (THE
HIGHEST) IN KMNO4. THEREFORE IT CAN ONLY BE REDUCED (GAIN ELECTRONS) TO
LOWER OXIDATION STATES IN REDOX REACTIONS. ALTHOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE TO
MAKE +4, +3, 0 AND OTHER OXIDATION STATES, THE MOST COMMON REACTION IS A
FIVE ELECTRON REDUCTION TO +2; THAT IS MN2+ WHICH OCCURS AS A HYDRATED
ION IN WATER. THE REDUCTION HALF REACTION IS:
MnO4 - + 8H+ + 5e = Mn2+ + 4H2O
THE HALF REACTION REQUIRES ACID (H+ ) TO MAKE WATER, AND THE ACID
SPEEDS UP THE REACTION. IT IS NOT AN “ACIDBASE” REACTION IN THE STRICT
SENSE AS THERE IS NO NEUTRALIZATION. YET THE ABOVE HALF REACTION
CANNOT OCCUR WITHOUT A COMPLIMENTARY OXIDATION HALF REACTION. THE
OXIDATION HALF REACTION MAY THEN BE WRITTEN AS:
C2O4 2- = 2CO2 + 2e –
THE TWO HALF REACTIONS HAVE DIFFERENT NUMBERS OF ELECTRONS, FIVE FOR
THE REDUCTION AND TWO FOR THE OXIDATION. THE RULES FOR BALANCING
REDOX REACTIONS INCLUDE THAT ELECTRON MUST BE CANCELED OUT WHEN
ADDING AND STOICHIOMETRY ARE DONE. IF THE FIRST REACTION IS MULTIPLIED
BY 2 AND THE SECOND BY 5, THEN THE TWO ARE ADDED TOGETHER WE GET THE
BALANCED, OVERALL REDOX REACTION:
 5C2O4 2- + 2MnO4 - + 16H+ = 10CO2 + 2Mn2+ + 8H2O
THIS REACTION TELLS US THAT FIVE OXALATE (C2O4 2- ) AND TWO
PERMANGANATE (MnO4 - ) ON A MOLE BASIS GO TOGETHER TO MAKE PRODUCTS
IN THE PRESENCE OF A LOT OF ACID (H+ ). A TITRATION IS A PROCESS OF
COMBINING TWO LIQUIDS IN A MANNER SO THAT STOICHIOMETRIC EQUIVALENCE
(CHEMICAL REACTIONS MUST BE BALANCED, OR IN OTHER WORDS, MUST HAVE
THE SAME NUMBER OF VARIOUS ATOMS IN THE PRODUCTS AS IN THE REACTANTS)
IS ACHIEVED.

QUESTIONS
1. GIVE ATLEAST 5 REDOX REACTION

EXAMPLE 1: REACTION BETWEEN HYDROGEN AND FLUORINE

IN THE REACTION BETWEEN HYDROGEN AND FLUORINE, THE HYDROGEN IS OXIDIZED
WHEREAS THE FLUORINE IS REDUCED. THE REACTION CAN BE WRITTEN AS FOLLOWS.
H2 + F2 → 2HF
THE OXIDATION HALF-REACTION IS: H2 → 2H+ + 2e–
THE REDUCTION HALF-REACTION IS: F2 + 2e– → 2F–
THE HYDROGEN AND FLUORINE IONS GO ON TO COMBINE IN ORDER TO FORM HYDROGEN
FLUORIDE.

EXAMPLE 2: REACTION BETWEEN ZINC AND COPPER

THIS IS A TYPE OF METAL DISPLACEMENT REACTION IN WHICH COPPER METAL IS OBTAINED
WHEN ZINC DISPLACES THE CU2+ION IN THE COPPER SULFATE SOLUTION AS SHOWN IN THE
REACTION BELOW.
Zn (s) + CuSO4 (aq) → ZnSO4 (aq) + Cu (s)
THE OXIDATION HALF-REACTION CAN BE WRITTEN AS: Zn → Zn2+ + 2e–
THE REDUCTION HALF-REACTION CAN BE WRITTEN AS: Cu2+ + 2e– → Cu

EXAMPLE 3: REACTION BETWEEN IRON AND HYDROGEN PEROXIDE

FE2+ IS OXIDIZED TO FE3+ BY HYDROGEN PEROXIDE WHEN AN ACID IS PRESENT. THIS
REACTION IS PROVIDED BELOW.
2Fe2+ + H2O2 + 2H+ → 2Fe3+ + 2H2O
OXIDATION HALF-REACTION: Fe2+ → Fe3+ + e–
 REDUCTION HALF-REACTION: H2O2 + 2e– → 2 OH–
THUS, THE HYDROXIDE ION FORMED FROM THE REDUCTION OF HYDROGEN PEROXIDE
COMBINES WITH THE PROTON DONATED BY THE ACIDIC MEDIUM TO FORM WATER.

EXAMPLE 4: DISPROPORTIONATION
A DISPROPORTIONATION REACTION IS ONE IN WHICH A SINGLE SUBSTANCE IS BOTH
OXIDIZED AND REDUCED. FOR EXAMPLE, THIOSULFATE ION WITH SULFUR IN OXIDATION
STATE +2 CAN REACT IN THE PRESENCE OF ACID TO FORM ELEMENTAL SULFUR (OXIDATION
STATE 0) AND SULFUR DIOXIDE (OXIDATION STATE +4).
S2O32-(aq) + 2 H+(aq) → S(s) + SO2(g) + H2O(l)
THUS ONE SULFUR ATOM IS REDUCED FROM +2 TO 0, WHILE THE OTHER IS OXIDIZED
FROM +2 TO +4.
2. Identify the Reduction half reaction and Oxidation half reaction of each reaction from
previous question.
3. List down the reducing and oxidizing agent of each reaction ( From Strongest to weakest)
4. How can you tell the difference between a redox and Nonredox reaction?
a. The primary distinction between redox and nonredox processes is that in redox
reactions, the oxidation state of some chemical elements moves from one state to
another, but in nonredox reactions, chemical element oxidation states do not change.

5. Give at least 3 application/example of redox reaction in our daily lives.

b. Cellular respiration which is the ultimate source of energy in human beings
encompasses a series of redox reactions. So, the food that we consume is converted
into energy by redox reactions only. During the process of respiration, the carbon-
dioxide is reduced whereas the water is oxidized to form oxygen.
c. Combustion forms the classic example of redox reactions in real-life. However,
whenever we talk about combustion, we usually view it as a physical change than a
chemical one. The burning of organic material and combustion of hydrocarbons in
fossil fuels form yet another important example of redox reactions. The oxygen
present in the atmosphere bonds with carbon and hydrogen present in the compound
being burned. During the process of combustion, the oxygen present in the
atmosphere is being reduced whereas the compound which is being burned is
undergoing oxidation.
d. The process of developing a photographic film also employs redox reactions. The
silver ions in activated silver bromide are reduced to silver atoms by reducing
chemicals like hydroquinone or pyrogallos. In addition, sodium thiosulfate is also used
in the process of obtaining a negative. A positive image is obtained by the exposure of
the negative to light. Following the exposure to light, silver cations are reduced.
 6. Balanced the following Redox Reactions using the half reaction method. Show complete
analysis in balancing the redox reaction.

A. Cr2O72- + C2H6O Cr3+ + C2H4O

B. Fe2+(aq) + Cr2O2−7(aq) → Fe3+(aq) + Cr3+(aq)

C. SO2−3(aq) + MnO−4(aq)→ SO2−4(aq) + Mn2+(aq)