Oxidation and Reduction

Table of Contents
Oxidation-reduction reactions in terms of electrons...........................................................................1
Examples...........................................................................................................................................1
Oxidation number or oxidation state...................................................................................................2
Rules..................................................................................................................................................3
Examples...........................................................................................................................................5
Oxidation-reduction reactions in terms of oxidation number.............................................................6
Oxidising and reducing agents..............................................................................................................7
Example.............................................................................................................................................7
Using oxidation numbers to recognise redox reactions.......................................................................8
NOTE.................................................................................................................................................8
Example.............................................................................................................................................8
Common oxidising and reducing agents...............................................................................................9
Oxidising agents................................................................................................................................9
Tests for oxidising and reducing agents.........................................................................................10
Test for the presence of an oxidising agent................................................................................10
Tests for the presence of a reducing agent................................................................................10
Oxidation-reduction reactions in everyday activities....................................................................10
Review Questions...............................................................................................................................11
 Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation and reduction are opposite processes that occur together in certain reactions.
These are known as redox reactions.

Oxidation-reduction reactions in terms of electrons

In many redox reactions, one element loses electrons and another gains them. Oxidation and
reduction can be defined in terms of electron transfer.
OIL – Oxidation Is Loss
RIG – Reduction Is Gain
Examples –
 Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation number or oxidation state
An oxidation number can be assigned to each atom or ion in a chemical substance. The
oxidation number indicates the number of electrons lost, gained or shared as a result of
chemical bonding. Oxidation numbers are either positive, negative or zero. Unless an
oxidation number is zero, a plus or minus sign is written in front of the number.
 Oxidation and Reduction
Rules
 Oxidation and Reduction
Examples
 Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidation-reduction reactions in terms of oxidation number
In all redox reactions, the oxidation number of one element increases and the oxidation
number of another element decreases. Oxidation and reduction can be defined in terms of the
oxidation number
Oxidation is the increase in the oxidation number of an element in its free state, or an
element in a compound
Reduction is the decrease in oxidation number of an element in its free state, or an element
in a compound.
Example –
 Oxidation and Reduction
Oxidising and reducing agents
During any redox reaction
 One reactant causes another reactant to be oxidised. This is the oxidising agent
 One reactant causes another reactant to be reduced. This is the reducing agent
Example
 Oxidation and Reduction
Using oxidation numbers to recognise redox reactions
Any redox reaction can be recognised using the following steps
 Write the balanced chemical equation for the reaction if it has not been given
 Write the oxidation number of each element below it in brackets, the oxidation
numbers of elements in polyatomic ions which remain unchanged during a reaction
need not be determined
 Decide which element shows an increase in oxidation number. This element has been
oxidised
 Decide which element shows a decrease in oxidation number. This element has been
reduced.
NOTE – If the oxidation numbers of all elements remain unchanged, the reaction is not a
redox reaction
Example
 Oxidation and Reduction
Common oxidising and reducing agents
Some substances always behave as oxidising agents and others always behave as reducing
agents. A visible change may occur when some of these react.
Oxidising agents
Common oxidising agents include Oxygen O2 , Chlorine Cl2 and Manganese (IV) oxide
MnO2

Common reducing agents include Hydrogen H2, Carbon C and Carbon monoxide CO2
 Oxidation and Reduction
Tests for oxidising and reducing agents
Certain tests can be performed to determine if an unknown substance is an oxidising or
reducing agent
Test for the presence of an oxidising agent
To test to see if a substance is an oxidising agent, add it to a known reducing agent, which
gives a visible change when oxidised. The reducing agents usually used are potassium
iodide solution or an aqueous solution of an iron (II) salt.
 An oxidising agent causes potassium iodide solution to change from colourless to
brown because it oxidises the colourless I- ion to iodine which dissolves forming a
brown solution.
 An oxidising agent causes an aqueous solution of an iron (II) salt, e.g. iron (II)
sulfate, to change from pale green to yellow-brown because it oxidises the pale green
Fe2+ ion to the yellow-brown Fe3+ ion.
Tests for the presence of a reducing agent
To test to see if a substance is a reducing agent, add it to a known oxidising agent, which
gives a visible change when it is reduced. The oxidising agents usually used are acidified
potassium manganite (VII) solution or acidified potassium dichromate (VI) solution
 A reducing agent causes acidified potassium manganite (VII) solution to change
from purple to colourless because it reduces the purple MnO-4 ion to the colourless
Mn2+ ion.
 A reducing agent causes the acidified potassium dichromate (VI) solution to change
from orange to green because it reduces the orange Cr2 O2-7 ion to the green Cr3+ ion.
Oxidation-reduction reactions in everyday activities
Oxidation and Reduction
Review Questions