Chapter 3: oxidation and reduction Oxidation and reduction In terms of gain and loss of oxygen  When substance gains

oxygen in a chemical reaction that means it has been oxidised.  The reaction is called an oxidation reaction.  Example: (a) Magnesium burns in oxygen to form magnesium oxide. Magnesium gains oxygen in the reaction. So magnesium is oxidised.

 The reaction of iron (a metal) with sulphur (a non-metal) is an oxidation reaction.

 The reaction of zinc (a metal) with bromine (non-metal) to form zinc bromide is also an oxidation reaction.

(b) Methane burns in oxygen to form water and carbon dioxide. The carbon gains oxygen to become carbon dioxide. So carbon is oxidised. The hydrogen gain oxygen to become water. Hydrogen is oxidised.

Oxidation and reduction In terms of gain and loss of hydrogen  A compound is oxidised if it loses hydrogen.  Example: (a) Ammonia has been oxidised to nitrogen gas by losing hydrogen.

(b) Hydrogen sulphide has been oxidised by losing hydrogen.

 The loss of oxygen is called reduction. This is the opposite of oxidation.  A substance that has lost oxygen is said to be reduced.  Example: Magnesium reacts with copper (II) oxide to produce magnesium oxide and copper. Copper (II) oxide has lost oxygen. So it is reduced.

 A compound is reduced if it gains hydrogen.  Example: (a) Reaction of hydrogen sulphide with chlorine

 The magnesium has gained oxygen and so it has been oxidised.  The copper (II) oxide is said to be an oxidising agent because it oxidised magnesium to magnesium oxide.  Magnesium is a reducing agent because it reduces copper (II) oxide to copper.  Iron(III) is reduced in the following reaction:

i. Hydrogen sulphide has lost hydrogen. Therefore it is oxidised. ii. The chlorine has gained the hydrogen. Therefore it is reduced. iii. Hydrogen sulphide is the reducing agent because it reduced chlorine to hydrogen chloride. iv. Chlorine is the oxidising agent because it oxidised hydrogen sulphide by making it lose hydrogen and sulphur is produced. (b) Reaction of nitrogen with hydrogen

Oxidation of metals with non-metals  The combination of potassium (metal) and chlorine, a non-metal is an example of an oxidation reaction. Potassium chloride is formed.

(c) Reaction of iodine with hydrogen

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Oxidation and reduction In terms of electron transfer  The loss of electrons by an atom or ion is called oxidation.  Example: (a) Iron lost three electrons to form iron (III) ions. We say that iron has been oxidised to Fe3+.

 Example: Sodium reacts with chlorine to form sodium chloride.

 During the reaction: i. sodium gives away 1 electron to become a sodium ion, Na+.

(b) Magnesium is oxidised to Mg2+ because it has lost 2 electrons. ii. Chlorine gains 1 electron to form a chloride ion CI-.
 If particles give away electrons (loss of electron): (a) They will become more positive. (b) Their electropositivity will increase. (c) Their oxidation number will increase.  The gain of electron by an atom or ion is called reduction.  Example: (a) Iron (III) ions, Fe3+ have gained three electrons to form iron atom, Fe. *Fe3+ has been reduced to Fe2+ if it gains one electron.

iii. The sodium ions and the chloride ions combine to form sodium chloride.

(b) Magnesium ion Mg2+ gains two electrons to form magnesium atom. The magnesium ion has been reduced to the magnesium atom.

 If a particle gains electron(s): i. it will become more negative as in bromine (Br2).

ii. Its electronegativity will increase. iii. Its oxidation number will decrease. iv. Reduction will occur.  Transfer of electron(s) can only take place if there is: (a) a receiver of electron(s). (b) a donor of electron(s). Miss lyla

Redox reaction  Oxidising and reducing agents  Half equation (half reaction)  Oxidation number  Naming compounds using the iupac nomenclature  Oxidation number of non-metallic elements  Oxidation-reduction and change of oxidation number  Displacement reaction 

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