Unit 11: Electrochemistry

Redox and Voltaic Cells

Name:_______________________________
Objectives:
 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of the loss or gain of electrons
 State the characteristics of a redox reaction
 Determine the oxidation number of an atom of any element in a pure substance.
 Define oxidation and reduction in terms of a change in oxidation number, and identify
atoms being oxidized or reduced in redox reactions.
 Describe how oxidation numbers are used to identify redox reactions.
 Balance a redox equation by breaking the equation into oxidation and reduction half-
reactions, and then balance using the half-reaction method.
 Interpret an activity series and identify the elements that are most easily oxidized
and those that are least easily oxidized
 Name the type of reactions involved in electrochemical processes
 Describe how a voltaic cell produces electrical energy

Vocabulary List

Electrochemistry Electrode
Electrons Cathode
Oxidation Anode
Reduction Voltaic cell
Oxidation number Spontaneous
Monatomic ions Nonspontaneous
REDOX Salt bridge
Reduction half reactions Cation
Oxidation half reactions Anion
Electrochemical cell

Date: _________________________
 Redox

• Reactions involving oxidation and reduction are called redox reactions

• Both reactions always occur together
• Results from the __________________________________________________
• When chemical bonds form, electrons are either lost, gained or shared.

Redox Reactions

• Electron shift in redox reactions

• Redox reactions are currently understood to involve the ___________________
between reactants

• Oxidation
» ______________________________________________
• Reduction
» ______________________________________________

LEO says GER

_______________________________________ = Oxidation

_______________________________________ = Reduction

Oxidation

• Loss of electrons.

• Metals are more easily oxidized.

• If a substance is oxidized, its oxidation number increases

Reduction

• Gain of electrons
.
• Non-metals are more easily reduced.

• If a substance is reduced, its oxidation number decreases.

Date: ___________________________
 Oxidation Numbers
What is an oxidation number?
 An oxidation number is a positive or negative number assigned to an atom to
keep track of electron transfers & electron sharing
 An oxidation number tells how much the particle was either oxidized OR
reduced (even though it is called an oxidation number)
 Convenient way to keep track of electrons
 Based on assumption that electrons shared between two atoms belong
to the atom with the higher electronegativity

Rules for Assigning Oxidation Numbers

1. The oxidation number of any uncombined element is _______.

2. The oxidation number of a monatomic ion equals its charge.

3. Group 1 elements are always ____________

4. Group 2 elements are always ____________

5. Group 17 elements are usually ___________

6. The oxidation number of oxygen in compounds is almost always ____________

7. The oxidation number of hydrogen in compounds is almost always __________

8. For any neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation numbers of the atoms in the
compound must equal __________.

9. For a polyatomic ion, the sum of the oxidation numbers in the formula is equal to
the ionic ______________________

Exercise 1: Using the rules assign oxidation numbers to each element in the following
compounds or polyatomic ions.
1. MgBr2 9. CuSO4 17. K2Cr2O7

2. Cu 10. Cr 18. Al2O3

3. Fe2O3 11. H2CO3 19. Fe(NO3)3

4. AlN 12. Ba(NO3)2 20. SrCO3

5. SO3 13. NF3 21. Na2SO3

6. PO43- 14. CO 22. Ca(ClO)2

7. Cr2O72- 15. CO2 23. H2O

8. HClO2 16. CH4 24. K2S

Date: ____________________________________

Oxidation and Reduction

Until now our view of a reaction:
Mg + S à MgS
Reaction viewed as Redox:

• The magnesium atom changes to a more stable magnesium ion by losing 2

electrons, and is thus ____________________

• The sulfur atom is changed to a more stable sulfide ion by gaining 2 electrons,
and is thus __________________

• The over all process is represented as the two component processes below:
Oxidation - ____________________

Reduction - ___________________

Practice Problem 1

Determine what is oxidized and what is reduced in each reaction.

Practice Problem 2

Identify these processes as either oxidation or reduction.

Date: _____________________________________
 Identifying Redox Equations

In general, all chemical reactions can be assigned to one of two classes:

1. Oxidation - reduction, in which electrons are transferred:

________________________________________________
________________________________________________
2. All other reactions…
 no electron transfer
 ______________________________________________

• In an electrical storm, oxygen and nitrogen react to form nitrogen monoxide:

__________________

• Is this a redox reaction?

• If the oxidation number of an element in a reacting species changes, then

that element has undergone either oxidation or reduction; therefore, the
reaction as a whole must be a redox reaction.

Half Reactions

A half-reaction is an ___________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________

To properly write a half reaction:

– Determine the substance that is oxidized and the substance that is reduced
by assigning oxidation numbers

– Determine the number of electrons lost in oxidation and the number of

electrons gained in reduction

– For the oxidation half reaction write only the substance that is oxidized and
add the number of electrons lost as a _____________________________

– For the reduction half reaction write only the substance that is reduced and
add the number of electrons lost as a _____________________________

Practice Problem
Write the two half reactions for the following redox reactions.

Al + Cu2+ Al 3+ + Cu

Oxidation - ______________ is oxidized because it loses ____ electrons

Reduction - ______________ is reduced because it gains _____ electrons

Exercise 2: Identifying Oxidation and Reduction Half Reactions. Write the half
reactiob for each of the unbalanced equations below.
 1. Al + Cu2+  Al3+ + Cu

Oxidation:

Reduction:

2. Al + Cr3+  Al3+ + Cr

Oxidation:

Reduction:

3. Sn + Pb2+  Sn2+ + Pb

Oxidation:

Reduction:

4. Fe + Cu2+  Fe2+ + Cu

Oxidation:

Reduction:

5. Cr + Sn4+  Sn4+ + Cr3+

Oxidation:

Reduction:

Date: _______________________________
 Using Half Reactions
They are then balanced separately, and finally combined
1. Write unbalanced equation in ___________________
2. Write separate half-reaction equations for oxidation and reduction
3. Balance the ___________ in the half-reaction
4. ______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
5. Multiply each half-reaction by a number to make the electrons equal in both
6. Add the balanced half-reactions to show an overall equation
Example:
Consider the reduction of Ag+ ions with copper metal.

Step 1:Divide the reaction into half-reactions, one for oxidation and the other for
reduction.

Step 2: Balance each element for mass. Already done in this case.

Step 3: Balance each half-reaction for charge by adding electrons.

Step 4: Multiply each half-reaction by a factor so that the total electrons lost equals
the total electrons gained

Step 5: Add half-reactions to give the overall equation.

The equation is now balanced for both mass & charge

Exercise 3: Balancing REDOX Reactions. Balance the following redox reactions.

1. Ni + Sn4+  Ni2+ + S

Oxidation half:

Reduction half:

Balanced Reaction:

2. Li + Al+3  Li+1 + Al

Oxidation half:

Reduction half:

Balanced Reaction:

3. Hg + Ag+1  Ag + Hg+2

Oxidation half:

Reduction half:

Balanced Reaction:

4. Au+3 + Ti+2  Au + Ti+4

Oxidation half:

Reduction half:

Balanced Reaction:

Exercise 4 – Redox Review

1. In which type of chemical reaction are electrons transferred?

(1) organic addition

(2) oxidation-reduction
(3) double replacement
(4) acid-base neutralization

2. In a redox reaction, which particles are lost and gained in equal numbers?

(1) electrons (3) hydroxide ions

(2) neutrons (4) hydronium ions

3. What is the oxidation state for a Mn atom?

(1) 0 (3) +3
(2) +7 (4) +4

4. The chemical process in which electrons are gained by an atom or an ion is called

(1) addition (3) reduction

(2) oxidation (4) substitution

5. Given the balanced equation representing a reaction:

4Al(s) + 3O2(g) → 2Al2O3(s)

As the aluminum loses 12 moles of electrons, the oxygen

(1) gains 4 moles of electrons (3) loses 4 moles of electrons

(2) gains 12 moles of electrons (4) loses 12 moles of electrons

6. What is the oxidation number of manganese in KMnO4?

(1) +7 (3) +3
(2) +2 (4) +4

7. What is conserved during all chemical reactions?

(1) charge (3) vapor pressure

(2) density (4) melting point
 8. During an oxidation-reduction reaction, the number of electrons gained is

(1) equal to the number of electrons lost

(2) equal to the number of protons gained
(3) less than the number of electrons lost
(4) less than the number of protons gained

9. Which half-reaction equation represents reduction?

10. Given the balanced ionic equation representing a reaction:

Which statement describes the electrons involved in this reaction?

(1) Each Zn atom loses 2 electrons, and each Co2+ ion gains 2 electrons.
(2) Each Zn atom loses 2 electrons, and each Co2+ ion loses 2 electrons.
(3) Each Zn atom gains 2 electrons, and each Co2+ ion loses 2 electrons.
(4) Each Zn atom gains 2 electrons, and each Co2+ ion gains 2 electrons.

11. What are the two oxidation states of nitrogen in NH 4NO2?

(1) +3 and +5 (3) -3 and +3

(2) +3 and -5 (4) -3 and -3

Base your answers to questions 12 – 13 on the information below.

The nuts, bolts, and hinges that attach some gates to a playground fence can be made
of iron. The iron can react with oxygen in the air. The unbalanced equation representing this
reaction is shown below.

Fe(s) + O2(g) → Fe2O3(s)

12. Balance the equation for the reaction, using the smallest whole-number coefficients.

_________ Fe(s) + _________ O2(g) → _________ Fe2O3(s)

13. Determine the change in oxidation state for oxygen in this reaction.

From ____________ to ____________

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Electrochemical Processes
• Chemical processes either release or absorb energy
• Energy is sometimes in the form of _____________________
 Electron transfer reactions or redox reactions result in the generation
___________________________________________________________________

or
can be caused by _________________________________________________

– The field of chemistry that deals with these two situations is called
_________________________

Spontaneous Redox Reactions

- This is a spontaneous redox reaction, where Zn metal is oxidized and copper

ions are reduced.

How do we know this reaction between zinc and copper is spontaneous?

• Table J – Activity Series

• Zinc is higher on the list than copper
____________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________

 Identify the following reactions as spontaneous or non-spontaneous.

Write the products and balance.

Li + AlCl3 
Cs + CuCl2 
I2 + NaCl 
Cl2 + KBr 
Fe + CaBr2 
Mg + Sr(NO3)2 
F2 + MgCl2 
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Electrochemical Cells

Electrochemical Processes
Any conversion between chemical energy and electrical energy
 All electrochemical processes involve redox reactions
When a redox reaction is to be used as a source of electrical energy, the two half
reactions must be physically separated
 When half reactions are separated the system serves as an
electrochemical cell
Electrochemical Cell
o ___________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________

 Redox reactions occur in all electrochemical cells

Overview of Electrochemistry

Two kinds of electrochemical cells (kind of opposites):

1. Voltaic

• ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

2. Electrolytic

• ________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

Parts of a Voltaic Cell

2 half cells
2 electrodes (an anode and a cathode)
Aqueous solutions
Wire
Salt bridge
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Half Cells: ____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

This arrangement provides a source of metal ions to be reduced and a source of

metal atoms to be oxidized.

Aqueous solution must contain ions of Aqueous solution must contain ions of
same metal as electrode: here ions = same metal as electrode: here ions =
_________. __________

Solution is Solution is
Zn(NO3)3(aq) Cu(NO3)3(aq)

Anode and Cathode

• Electrodes
• Anode
• Electrode at which the ________________________ occurs
– Electrons are produced at the anode and it is labeled the _______________
electrode
• Cathode
• Electrode at which __________________________ occurs
– Electrons are consumed at the cathode as a result the cathode is labeled the
____________________ electrode

• Neither electrode is really charged

• All parts remain neutral
• Moving electrons and ions balance any charge that might build up
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An Ox Ate a Red Cat

• Anode – Oxidation
• The anode = ______________________________________________________

• Reduction – Cathode
• The cathode = ____________________________________________________

How to determine which electrode is the anode and which electrode is the cathode?
Remember…
Table J
• _______________________________________________________________

• Anode = _____________________ = electron donor

____________ metal on table J
• Cathode = ___________________ = electron acceptor
____________ metal on table J

Movement of Electrons and Ions

• Direction of electron flow
Through wire
___________________________________
• Direction of positive ion flow
Through salt bridge
___________________________________
• Direction of negative ion flow
Through salt bridge
___________________________________

Zn is above Cu on Table J

 Electrons flow from ___________

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 Positive ions (Zn2+) flow from

______________________________________________________

 Negative ions (SO42-) flow from ___________________________

___________________________
Construct a Voltaic Cell with Mg & Fe(III)
• Use Table J to identify anode & cathode.
• Draw Cell, put in electrodes & solutions using nitrate as the negative ion
• Label anode, cathode, direction of electron flow in wire in wire, & direction of positive ion flow in
salt bridge.

What are the half-reactions?

Oxidation half-reaction: __________________________________________________

Reduction half-reaction: _________________________________________________

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Overall Reaction: ______________________________________________________

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Unit 11 – Electrochem

14. During the operation of a voltaic cell, the cell produces

(1) electrical energy spontaneously

(2) chemical energy spontaneously
(3) electrical energy nonspontaneously
(4) chemical energy nonspontaneously

15. Which term identifies the half-reaction that occurs at the anode of an operating electrochemical cell?

(1) oxidation (3) neutralization

(2) reduction (4) transmutation

16. In which type of chemical reaction are electrons transferred?

(1) organic addition

(2) oxidation-reduction
(3) double replacement
(4) acid-base neutralization

17. In a redox reaction, which particles are lost and gained in equal numbers?

(1) electrons (3) hydroxide ions

(2) neutrons (4) hydronium ions

18. What is the oxidation state for a Mn atom?

(1) 0 (3) +3
(2) +7 (4) +4

19. The chemical process in which electrons are gained by an atom or an ion is called

(1) addition (3) reduction

(2) oxidation (4) substitution

20. Which process occurs in an operating voltaic cell?

(1) Electrical energy is converted to chemical energy.

(2) Chemical energy is converted to electrical energy.
(3) Oxidation takes place at the cathode.
(4) Reduction takes place at the anode.

21. Given the balanced equation representing a reaction:

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4Al(s) + 3O2(g) → 2Al2O3(s)

As the aluminum loses 12 moles of electrons, the oxygen

(1) gains 4 moles of electrons (3) loses 4 moles of electrons

(2) gains 12 moles of electrons (4) loses 12 moles of electrons
22. What is the oxidation number of manganese in KMnO 4?

(1) +7 (3) +3
(2) +2 (4) +4

10. What is conserved during all chemical reactions?

(1) charge (3) vapor pressure

(2) density (4) melting point

23. During an oxidation-reduction reaction, the number of electrons gained is

(1) equal to the number of electrons lost

(2) equal to the number of protons gained
(3) less than the number of electrons lost
(4) less than the number of protons gained

24. Which process requires energy for a nonspontaneous redox reaction to occur?

(1) deposition (3) alpha decay

(2) electrolysis (4) chromatography

25. Which metal is most easily oxidized?

(1) Ag (3) Cu
(2) Co (4) Mg

26. Which statement describes an electrolyte?

(1) An electrolyte conducts an electric current as a solid and dissolves in water.

(2) An electrolyte conducts an electric current as a solid and does not dissolve in water.
(3) When an electrolyte dissolves in water, the resulting solution conducts an electric current.
(4) When an electrolyte dissolves in water, the resulting solution does not conduct an electric current.

27. Which half-reaction equation represents reduction?

28. Given the balanced ionic equation representing a reaction:

Which statement describes the electrons involved in this reaction?

(1) Each Zn atom loses 2 electrons, and each Co 2+ ion gains 2 electrons.
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(2) Each Zn atom loses 2 electrons, and each Co 2+ ion loses 2 electrons.
(3) Each Zn atom gains 2 electrons, and each Co 2+ ion loses 2 electrons.
(4) Each Zn atom gains 2 electrons, and each Co 2+ ion gains 2 electrons.

17. What are the two oxidation states of nitrogen in NH 4NO2?

(1) +3 and +5 (3) -3 and +3

(2) +3 and -5 (4) -3 and -3

Base your answers to questions 1 – 4 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

An operating voltaic cell has zinc and iron electrodes. The cell and the unbalanced ionic equation
representing the reaction that occurs in the cell are shown below.

29. Identify the subatomic particles that flow through the wire as the cell operates. ________________________

30. Balance the equation for the redox reaction that occurs in this cell, using the smallest whole-number
coefficients.

31. Identify one metal from Table J that is more easily oxidized than Zn. _______________________________
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32. Explain, in terms of Zn atoms and Zn ions, why the mass of the Zn electrode decreases as the cell operates.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

Base your answers to questions 5 – 6 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

The nuts, bolts, and hinges that attach some gates to a playground fence can be made of iron. The
iron can react with oxygen in the air. The unbalanced equation representing this reaction is shown below.

Fe(s) + O2(g) → Fe2O3(s)

33. Balance the equation for the reaction, using the smallest whole-number coefficients.

_________ Fe(s) + _________ O2(g) → _________ Fe2O3(s)

34. Determine the change in oxidation state for oxygen in this reaction. From ____________ to ____________
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Base your answers to questions 7 – 9 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

A small digital clock can be powered by a battery made from two potatoes and some household
materials. The “potato clock” battery consists of two cells connected in a way to produce enough electricity
to allow the clock to operate. In each cell, zinc atoms react to form zinc ions. Hydrogen ions from phosphoric
acid in the potatoes react to form hydrogen gas. The labeled diagram and balanced ionic equation below
show the reaction, the materials, and connections necessary to make a “potato clock” battery.

35. State the direction of electron flow in wire A as the two cells operate. _______________________________

36. Write a balanced half-reaction equation for the oxidation that occurs in the “potato clock” battery.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

37. Explain why phosphoric acid is needed for the battery to operate.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
 Page 25

Base your answers to questions 10 – 13 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

In a laboratory apparatus, a sample of lead(II) oxide reacts with hydrogen gas at high temperature.
The products of this reaction are liquid lead and water vapor. As the reaction proceeds, water vapor and
excess hydrogen gas leave the glass tube. The diagram and balanced equation below represent this reaction.

10. Determine the change in oxidation number for the hydrogen that reacts. From _____________ to _________

11. Write a balanced half-reaction equation for the reduction of the Pb 2+ ions in this reaction.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

12. Explain why the reaction that occurs in this glass tube can not reach equilibrium.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________

13. State one change in reaction conditions, other than adding a catalyst, that would cause the rate of this reaction
to increase.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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Base your answers to questions 14 through 17 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

A student constructs an electrochemical cell during a laboratory investigation. When the switch is
closed, electrons flow through the external circuit. The diagram and ionic equation below represent this cell
and the reaction that occurs.

14. State the form of energy that is converted to electrical energy in the operating cell.

___________________________________________________

15. State, in terms of the Cu(s) electrode and the Zn(s) electrode, the direction of electron flow in the external circuit
when the cell operates.

____________________________________________________

16. Write a balanced equation for the half-reaction that occurs in the Cu half-cell when the cell operates.

____________________________________________________

17. State what happens to the mass of the Cu electrode and the mass of the Zn electrode in the operating cell.

Cu electrode: _____________________________

Zn electrode: _____________________________
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Base your answers to questions 18 and 19 on the information below and on your knowledge of chemistry.

A student constructs an electrochemical cell. A diagram of the operating cell and the unbalanced
ionic equation representing the reaction occurring in the cell are shown below. The blue color of the solution
in the copper half-cell indicates the presence of Cu 2+ ions. The student observes that the blue color becomes
less intense as the cell operates.

18. Identify the type of electrochemical cell represented by the diagram.

_______________________________________________

19. State one inference that the student can make about the concentration of the Cu 2+ ions based on the change in
intensity of the color of the Cu(NO3)2(aq) solution as the cell operates.

__________________________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________________________
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