WEEK 7

REDOX REACTIONS
A redox reaction is one in which both oxidation and reduction are taking place
simultaneously.
Primitive Definitions
a) Oxidation is defined as addition of oxygen to an element or a compound
while removal of oxygen is reduction. E.g
2Cu(s) + O2 ⟶ 2CuO(s) (oxidation)
b) Addition of hydrogen to an element or a compound is reduction while
removal of hydrogen is oxidation. E.g.
CuO(s) + H2(g) ⟶ Cu(s) + H2O(l) (reduction)
c) Oxidation is addition of electronegative element (oxygen-like element)
H2S + Cl2 ⟶ S + 2HCl (oxidation)
d) Reduction is addition of electropositive element (Hydrogen-like element)
Zn + 2HCl ⟶ ZnCl2 + H2

Modern definition of redox reactions

(a). Change (increase or decrease) in oxidation state/number.
Oxidation is defined as an increase in oxidation state while reduction can be
defined as a decrease in oxidation state e.g
Fe2+ Fe3+ (oxidation)
Cl2 2Cl- (reduction)
How to determine oxidation state/number?
General Rules for assigning oxidation numbers
(i). The oxidation state of elements in their standard state, e.g O2, N2, H2 etc /
uncombined state / neutral state e.g Na, C, H etc is equal zero
(ii) The sum oxidation state of a group of atoms / radical / ion is the charge it
carries.
E.g ClO3- = - 1; NH4+ = +1 etc
(iii) The sum of oxidation state of elements in a neutral compound = 0. E.g NaCl =
0

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(iv) The oxidation state of hydrogen in all compounds = +1 except in metallic
hydride e.g. NaH where it is = - 1
(v) The oxidation state of oxygen in every compound = -2 except in
I. peroxide e.g, H2O2, Na2O2, K2O2 etc where it is = - 1
II. superoxide e. g, KO2 where it is = - ½
(vi) In all compounds, alkali metal has oxidation state of +1, alkaline earth metal
has +2, halogen has -1
(vii) In a compound not covered by the above rules, the element of high
electronegativity has a negative oxidation number and the element of low
electronegativity has a positive oxidation number. E.g
SO3 : S = +6 and O = -2;
SO2 : S = +4 and O = -2
ClF3 : F = -1 and Cl = +3
CCl4 : Cl = -1 and C = +4
Examples calculate the oxidation number of the underlined atoms in the following
substances:
(a) K2S4O5 (b) O22- (c) CH2Cl2 (d) P2O74- (e) KMnO4 (f) C2H2 (g) C2H4 (h) C2H6
Solution
(a) Let the oxidation state of S be x (d) let the oxidation state of P be y
K2S4O5 = 0 P2O74- = - 4
2(+1) + 4x + 5(-2) = 0 2y + 7(-2) = - 4
+2 + 4x -10 =0 2y – 14 = - 4
4x +2 -10 = 0 2y = -4 + 14
4x – 8 = 0 2y = +10
+ 10
4x = +8 y = 2
+8
x= 4 y=+5

x = +2 ∴ the oxidation No of P in P2O74- =

+5

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∴ Oxidation state of sulphur in K2S4O6 = +2

(b). Definition of Redox reaction in terms of electron transfer.

Oxidation is loss of electron while reduction is gain of electron.
Fe2+ Fe3+ + e- (loss of electron) (oxidation)
Cl2 + 2e- 2Cl- (gain of electron) (reduction)
N.B. electron is loss when it appears on the right hand side of equation while
electron is gain when it appears on the left hand side of the equation

Redox Equation.
In a redox equation, both reduction and oxidation are occurring
simultaneously.
Examples are:
reduction
I. H2S + Cl2 S + 2HCl(s)
oxidation

reduction
II. Zn(s) + Cu2+ Zn2+ + Cu(s)
oxidation

reduction
III. 2FeCl2 + Cl2 2FeCl3(s)
oxidation
reduction
IV. 2H2S + SO2 3S + 2H2O
oxidation

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 REDUCING AND OXIDIZING AGENTS (REDUCTANT &
OXIDANT)
An oxidizing agent is an electron acceptor while a reducing agent is an
electron donor.
Oxidizing agent brings about oxidation while a reducing agent brings about
reduction.
The oxidation number of oxidizing agent decreases while the oxidation
number of reducing.
Examples
2FeCl2 + Cl2 2FeCl3(s)
+2 0 +3 -1
R.A O.A

H2S + SO2 S + 2HCl(s)

-2 +4 0
R.A O.A

H2S + Cl2 S + 2HCl(s)

-2 0 0 -1
R.A O.A

Evaluation:
 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of:
 Electron transfer
 Increase in oxidation number
 Addition and removal of electronegative element
 Identify the reduction and oxidation in the following redox reactions:
Br2 + 2HI 2HBr + I2
Zn + CuSO4 Cu + ZnSO4.
 State the oxidants and reductants in the above two redox reactions.

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 Assignment

1. State the oxidizing and reducing agents in the following redox reactions.
a) PbCl2(aq) + Zn Pb + ZnCl2
b) MnO2 + 4HCl MnCl2 + Cl2 + 2H2O
c) I2 + 2S2O32- 2I- + S4O62-

2. Calculate the oxidation number of underlined atoms in the following

compounds / ions
(a) Mn2O7 (b) Fe(CN)64- (c) V2O74- (d) KClO3 (e) Mg3N2 (f) BF4-

3. State the change in the oxidation state of C in the following compounds

(a) 2C2H6 + 7O2 4CO2 + 6H2O
(b) C2H2 + 2H2 C2H6