REDOX

REACTIONS

CAPE Chemistry Unit 1 Module 1

Specific Objectives 4.1, 4.2, 4.3,
4.4
Prepared by C. Lucero
Objectives
• explain redox reactions in terms of electron transfer and changes in
oxidation state (number);
• construct relevant half equations for redox reactions; Redox
equations should be constructed under both acidic and basic
conditions.
• deduce balanced equations for redox reactions from relevant half
equations;
• order elements in terms of oxidising or reducing ability. Perform
simple displacement reactions to order elements in terms of oxidising
or reducing ability; addition of zinc to copper (II) sulfate solution;
addition of chlorine water to bromide or iodide solutions
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What is a REDOX Reaction?

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Atom or Ion Oxidation Number Example

Elements in their elemental or free 0 Al in Al (the uncombined metal)

state N in N2
O in O2
Monatomic ions Equal to the charge on the ion Mg2+ is +2
Al3+ is +3
Br- is -1
Atoms in Polyatomic ions The sum of the oxidation numbers NO3- is -1 (N = +5, O = -2)
of all the atoms equals the charge SO42- is -2 (S = +6, O = -2)
on the ion NH4+ is +1 ( N = -3, H = +1)
Hydrogen in its compounds +1 (usually) H in H2O is +1
-1 in ionic hydrides H in NaH is -1

Oxygen in its Compounds -2 (usually) O in Na2O is -2

Except in peroxides and O in H2O2 is -1
superoxides
The sum of all oxidation numbers in 0 e.g. in NaCl
a neutral compound Na is +1, Cl is -1, sum = 0
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Ex: What is the oxidation number of Potassium in the
Potassium hypomanganate

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Ex: 2 Determine the oxidation number of Sulphur in the
sulphate ion

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Student Activity I –
Determine the oxidation number of the
atom in bold for the following:
1. S8
2. KMnO4
3. N2O3
4. Al(OH)4-
5. Li2O2
6. KHSO3
7. NO2-
8. N3 -
9. CrO42-
10. S2F10
11. Cr2O72-
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Balancing REDOX Reactions in ACIDIC medium
Ex 3: Write a balanced half equation for the reaction Cr2O72- to Cr3+

STEPS:
1) Write reactants on the LHS
and products on the RHS
2) Balance the elements
(other than O and H)
EXAMPLE:
1) Cr2O72− (aq) → Cr3+ (aq)
2) Cr2O72−(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq)

3) Cr2O72−(aq)→2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

3) Balance Oxygen using H2O

4) Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

4) Balance hydrogen using H+

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Balancing REDOX Reactions in ACIDIC medium Cont’d
Ex 3: Write a balanced half equation for the reaction Cr2O72- to Cr3+

• STEP: Example
5) Balance charges by From Step 4
adding electrons to the Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)
more positive side
LHS = 14(1+) + 1(-2) = 12+
RHS = 2(3+) + 7(0) = 6+
The chromium reaction has (14+) + (2-) = 12+ on
the left side and (2 x 3+) = 6+ on the right side. To
balance, add 6 electrons (each with a charge of -1)
to the left side:

Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

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Balancing REDOX Reactions in BASIC medium
Ex 4: Write a balanced half equation for the reaction Cr2O72- to Cr3+
Under Alkaline conditions
STEPS: EXAMPLE:
1) Carry out all 5 steps 1) Cr2O72− (aq) → Cr3+ (aq)
you would carry out
to balance in an
ACIDIC medium 2) Cr2O72−(aq) → 2Cr3+(aq)

3) Cr2O72−(aq)→2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

4) Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) → 2Cr3+ (aq) + 7H2O (l)

5) Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)

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Balancing REDOX Reactions in BASIC medium
Ex 4: Write a balanced half equation for the reaction Cr2O72- to Cr3+
STEPS: EXAMPLE:
6) Add sufficient OH- 6) Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H+ (aq) + 6e− + 14OH- (aq) → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l)
ions to neutralize H+
ions.
7) Add the same 7) Cr2O72−(aq)+14H+(aq) + 6e− + 14OH-(aq)→ 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 14OH- (aq)
number of OH- ions
to both sides.
8) Cr2O72− (aq)+ 14H2O (l) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 7H2O(l) + 14OH- (aq)
8) Simplify the
equation by
collecting all the like Cr2O72− (aq) + 14H2O (l) - 7H2O(l) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 14OH- (aq)
terms. (Remember
OH- ions neutralize
H+ ions to form H2O Cr2O72− (aq) + 7H2O(l) + 6e− → 2Cr3+(aq) + 14OH- (aq)
molecules)

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Balancing REDOX Reactions in Neutral Medium:
Ex 5: Write a balanced equation for the reaction of Al metal and Cu2+ ions in solution

• STEPS
1) Write the half equation for the
oxidation reaction
2) Write the half equation for the
reduction reaction
3) Balance the number of
electrons involved in the
transfer by multiplying the
equations by an integer, if
necessary
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• EXAMPLE
Al(s) + Cu2+ (aq)  Cu(s) + Al3+ (aq)
1) Al(s)  Al3+ (aq) + 3e-
2) Cu2+ (aq) + 2e-  Cu(s)
3)
[ Al(s)  Al3+ (aq) + 3e- ] x 2
[ Cu2+ (aq) + 2e-  Cu(s) ] x 3
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Balancing REDOX Reactions in Neutral medium Cont’d
Ex 5: Write a balanced equation for the reaction of Al metal and Cu2+ ions in solution

STEPS: EXAMPLE:
4) Combine the 4)
balanced half equations 2Al(s)  2Al3+ (aq) + 6e-
to give an overall
equation 3Cu2+ (aq) + 6e-  3Cu(s)

2Al(s) + 3Cu2+ (aq) + 6e-  2Al3+ (aq) + 6e- + 3Cu(s)

NB: the number of Overall Equation
charges on the LHS and 2Al(s) + 3Cu2+ (aq)  2Al3+ (aq) + 3Cu(s)
RHS are equal
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 Ex 6: Balancing Complete REDOX reactions for the reaction of
the dichromate ion with nitrous acid

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Student Activity II
1) Write a balanced equation for the reaction in which iron(II) ions are
oxidised by acidified permanganate ions
2) Given that the sulphate(IV) ion is converted to sulphate(VI) ion, in
the presence of water, deduce the balanced equation for the
REDOX reaction between the dichromate(VI) ion and the
sulphate(IV) ion.

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