Redox Chemistry

OXIDATION

When the oxidation number of an element increases, it is called oxidation. Also, losing
electrons is oxidation.

Mg + ½ O2 MgO

Mg Mg2+ + 2e-

Mg oxidizes as Mg gains oxygen as well as Mg loses electrons.

REDUCTION

When the oxidation number of an element decreases, it is called reduction. Also, gaining
electrons is reduction.

Mg + ½ O2 MgO

1/2 O2 + 2e- O2-

Oxygen reduces as oxygen gains electrons.

REDOX

A reaction that involves both oxidation and reduction.

OXIDISING AND REDUCING AGENTS

Mg + ½ O2 MgO

 In the above reaction, oxygen has oxidized Magnesium. Therefore, oxygen is called
oxidizing agent.
 In the above reaction, Magnesium has reduced oxygen. Therefore, Magnesium is called
reducing agent.
 1. Oxidizing agent is a substance that oxidizes another substance by removing one or more
electrons.
2. Reducing agent is a substance that reduces another substance by adding one or more
electrons.

DISPROPORTIONATION REACTION

A reaction involving the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of an element in a single species

Cu2O + CuSO4 CuSO4 + Cu + H2O

QUESTIONS

1. In the reaction:
Zn(s) + CuSO4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

a. Which species has been oxidized and which species has been reduced?

b. Write ionic half-equations to represent both the oxidation and the reduction reactions.
2. In each of the following reactions identify whether the underlined species has been
oxidized, reduced or neither.

a. Al(s) + 1 ½ Cl2 AlCl3

b. 4Na + TiO2 2Na2O + Ti

c. Ag+ + Cl- AgCl

d. Cl2 + 2Br- 2Cl- + Br2

e. CuO + 2H+ Cu2+ + H2O

f. MnO2 + 4HCl MnCl2 + Cl2 + 2H2O

3. In each of the following reactions, identify the species that has been oxidized. In each
case, justify your answer.
a. Fe + H2SO4 FeSO4 + H2

b. Na + ½ H2 NaH

c. CuO + Cu Cu2O

d. 2Fe(OH)2 + ½ O2 + H2O 2Fe(OH)3

e. 2V3+ + Zn 2V2+ + Zn2+

 ASSIGNING OXIDATION NUMBERS

Oxidation number is the charge that an ion has, or the charge that it would have if the species
were fully ionic.

Rules to remember

1. Oxidation number of an uncombined element is zero

Ex:
2. Sum of the oxidation numbers of all elements in a neutral compound is zero.
Ex:
3. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all elements in an ion is equal to the charge on the
ion. Ex:
4. The more electronegative element in a substance is given negative oxidation number
Ex:
5. Oxidation number of F is always -1.
Ex:
6. Oxidation number of H is +1 except when joined with a less electronegative atom then it
becomes -1. Ex:
7. Oxidation number of -2, but in H2O2 it is -1 and when combined with F it is +1.
Ex:

Example Calculations of oxidation number of elements

1. Deduce the oxidation number of chlorine in

a. NaCl

b. NaClO
 c. NaClO3

2. Deduce the oxidation number of N in

a. NH3

b. NO2-

c. NO3-

Questions

Calculate the oxidation number of the underlined element in each of the following species

I. SO2

II. SO3
 III. H2S

IV. H2O2

V. OF2

VI. NaH

VII. BaO2

VIII. SO32-

IX. SO42-
 X. S2O32-

XI. CrO42-

XII. Cr2O72-

XIII. MnO42-

XIV. MnO4-

XV. VO2+
 XVI. VO2+

XVII. ClO-

XVIII. ClO2-

XIX. ClO3-

XX. ClO4-

XXI. [CuCl4]2-

XXII. [V (H2O)6]2+
 RECOGNISING REACTIONS USING OXIDATION NUMBERS

 By calculating the oxidation number of elements in a compound, we can identtify

wheather the element has reduced or oxidised during the reaction.

Oxidation

When the oxidation number of an element increases; the loss of electrons.

Reduction

When the oxidation number of an element decreases; the gain of electrons

Disproportionation reaaction

A reaction involving the simultaneous oxidation and reduction of an element in a single species.

Example calculation
Question: Complete the table by filling giivng the oxidation number. One has been done for you.

Equation Redox Disproportionation Element Element

reaction oxidised reduced

Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2 √ × Mg H

0 +1 -1 +2 -1 0

CaO + H2O Ca(OH)2

2H2O2 2H2O + O2

KOH + HNO3 KNO3 + H2O

Cl2 + H2O HCl + HClO

 When writing systematic names, oxidation number of the element must be written in
roman numbers in a bracket.

Formula of Relevant oxidation Systemtic name

compound or ion number

FeCl2 Fe +2

FeCl3 Fe +3

KMnO4 Mn +7

K2MnO4 Mn +6

CrO42- Cr +6

Cr2O72- Cr +6

 Anion formed by combining an element with oxygen is named by ending suffix ‘ate’

 Cation formed by combining an element with oxygen gets the name of the element with
its oxidation number.

Questions

1. Give the systematic name for each of the following compounds.

(a) PCl3

(b) PCl5

(c) V2O5
(d) NaClO

(e) NaClO3

(f) Na2SO4

(g) Na2SO3

(h) SO3

(i) SO2

2. Give the systematic name for each of the following ions

(a) NO3-

(b) NO2-

(c) ClO4-

(d) VO2+

(e) VO2+
3. Deduce the formula for each of the following compounds:

(a) copper(l) oxide

(b) copper(II) oxide

(c) chromium(lll) sulfate(VI)

(d) lead(IV) iodide

(e) cobalt(lll) nitrate(V)

4. Why it is not necessary to refer to sodium chloride as sodium(l) chloride, magnesium oxide as
magnesium(ll) oxide?
 CONSTRUCTING FULL IONIC EQUATIONS

BALANCING BY COUNTING ELECTRONS

During balancing equations the number of the electrons releases by the oxidation reaction
must be equal to the electrons gained by reduction reactions.

Example 1:

Zn(s) Zn2+ (aq) + 2e-

Cu2+(aq) + 2e- Cu(s)

Example 2:

Fe2+(aq) Fe3+(aq) + e-

Cl2(g) + 2e- 2Cl-(aq)

Example 3:

Fe2+(aq) Fe3+(aq) + e-

MnO4- Mn2+
Example 4:

MnO4- Mn2+

H2O2 O2

BALANCING EQUATIONS USING OXIDATION NUMBERS

Example 1

…SO2(g) + ….H2O(l) + … Ag+(aq) …. SO42-(aq) + ….H+(aq) + Ag(s)

S oxidation number changes from ……………..to ……………… (……..electron change)

Ag oxidation number changes from…………..to………………..(………electron change)

Therefore the ratio between SO2 to Ag+ must be …………………

…SO2(g) + ….H2O(l) + … Ag+(aq) …. SO42-(aq) + ….H+(aq) + Ag(s)

Now we must balance H and O atoms

….SO2(g) + ….H2O(l) + … Ag+(aq) …. SO42-(aq) + ….H+(aq) + Ag(s)

Check the equation by finding the total charge of the two sides.

….……………left hand side and ……………….right hand side

Example 2:

….…….Fe2+(aq) + ………….ClO3- + …….H+ …….Fe3+ + …….Cl- + ……..H2O

….…….Fe2+(aq) + ………….ClO3- + …….H+ …….Fe3+ + …….Cl- + ……..H2O

Oerall charge …………………………………. ……………………………….

QUESTIONS

1. Use each pair of ionic half equations to construct a full ionic equation. Include state
symbols.

(a) Zn(s) + Fe3+(aq) → Zn2+(aq) + Fe2+(aq)

(b) I2(aq) + S2O32− (aq) → 2I− (aq) + S4O6 2− (aq)

(c) MnO4 − (aq) + H+ (aq) + Ce3+(aq) → Mn2+(aq) + H2O(l) + Ce4+(aq)

(d) Cr2O7 2− (aq) + H+ + Fe2+(aq) → Cr3+(aq) + H2O(l) + Fe3+(aq)

(e) FeO4 2− (aq) + H+ (aq) + C2O4 2− (aq) Fe3+(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)

2. Use the oxidation numbers to balance the following equations.

(a) Cu(s) + H+ (aq) + NO3 − (aq) → Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l) + NO(g)

(b) Cu(s) + H+ (aq) + NO3 − (aq) → Cu2+(aq) + H2O(l) + NO2(g)

(c) Cl2(g) + OH− (aq) → Cl− (aq) + ClO3 − (g) + H2O(l)