UNIT 6 - Electrochemistry Section 6.1 - Redox Reactions 6.1.

d Simple Half Reactions

Simple Half Reactions

Redox reactions can be written in a special way. They can be split into two HALF-REACTIONS.

One half reaction is the OXIDATION half reaction. Ex. Na → Na+ + e–

The other half reaction is the REDUCTION half reaction. Ex. Cl2 + 2 e– → 2 Cl–

In a OXIDATION half reaction the ELECTRONS are in the PRODUCTS Ex. Na → Na+ + e–

In a REDUCTION half reaction the ELECTRONS are in the REACTANTS Ex. Cl2 + 2 e– → 2 Cl–

In nature, half reactions can never exist in isolation from each other. If one species is giving away it’s
electrons, another species must accept them. The two half reactions are always the two halves of a full
redox reaction.

Recognizing the type of half reaction:

On paper, we will sometimes write half reactions on their own, and ask questions like this:

Ex. Identify each of the following as an oxidation or reduction half reaction:

(a) Fe2+ → e– + Fe3+

(b) Fe2+ + 2e– → Fe

(c) I2 + 6 H2O → 2 e– + 2 IO3– + 12 H+

Look to see where the electrons are:

If electrons are in the products, they are LOST, and thus the half-reaction is oxidation
(LEO losing electrons is oxidation)

If electrons are in the reactants, they are GAINED, and thus the half-reaction is reduction
(GER losing electrons is oxidation)

So the above half-reactions are: (a) oxidation (b) reduction (c) oxidation

Even though (c) was a complicated half reaction, we still know it is oxidation because the
electrons are in the products.

Half reactions are important for balancing redox equations and for determining the voltage of
electrochemical cells. We’ll get to both these topics later. For now, we will only identify and write the
half reactions of some simple oxidation-reduction (redox) reactions.
UNIT 6 - Electrochemistry Section 6.1 - Redox Reactions 6.1.d Simple Half Reactions

To write the two half reactions given an overall redox reaction:

① Write the net ionic equation (if not already given)

② Separate into two half reactions.

③ Add electrons to the correct side of the half reaction to balance the charge.

Oxidation half reaction: Electrons are LOST so they go in the PRODUCTS

Reduction half reaction: Electrons are GAINED so they go in the REACTANTS

Ex. Watch the following demonstration of the REDOX

reaction of Aluminum Foil in Copper (II) Chloride
solution: https://youtu.be/gqSXWbS6gzo

Overall Redox Reaction:

2 Al(s) + 3 CuCl2(aq) → 2 AlCl3 + 3 Cu(s)

① Write the net ionic equation (if not already given)

(a) Split apart aqueous substances into ions to get the complete ionic equation (C.I.E.)

C.I.E. 2 Al(s) + 3 Cu2+(aq) + 6 Cl–(aq) → 2 Al3+(aq) + 6 Cl–(aq) + 3 Cu(s)

(b) Cancel out the spectator ions to get the net ionic equation (N.I.E.)

N.I.E. 2 Al(s) + 3 Cu2+(aq) → 2 Al3+(aq) + 3 Cu(s)

② Separate into two half reactions.

(b)

2 Al(s) + 3 Cu2+(aq) → 2 Al3+(aq) + 3 Cu(s)

(a)

(a) 2 Al(s) → 2 Al3+(aq) or more simply Al → Al3+

(b) 3 Cu2+(aq) → 3 Cu(s) or more simply Cu2+ → Cu

UNIT 6 - Electrochemistry Section 6.1 - Redox Reactions 6.1.d Simple Half Reactions

③ Add electrons to the correct side of the half reaction to balance the charge.

(a) Al must lose three electrons to become Al3+: Al → Al3+ + 3e–

Since the e–‘s are in the products, this is oxidation.

Notice that the overall charge in the reactants is 0. (Al0)

And the overall charge in the products is 0. (3+ and 3– make 0)

Just like the atoms in an equation must balance, the CHARGE must also BALANCE.

(b) Cu2+ must gain three electrons to become Cu: Cu2+ + 2 e– → Cu

Notice that the overall charge on each side is 0 so the charge is balanced.

Note: The overall charge on each side must be balanced, but it does NOT have to equal zero!

In this half rxn: Fe2+ → e– + Fe3+ the overall charge on each side is 2+.

The overall charge is not zero, but it is balanced, so this is a balanced half rxn.

Note: You can also tell if a half rxn is oxidn or redn by comparing the oxidation numbers.

If the oxidation number gets bigger, the substance was oxidized.

If the oxidation number gets smaller (is reduced ), the substance was reduced.

i.e. If ΔO.N. is POSITIVE, OXIDATION occurred

If ΔO.N. is NEGATIVE, REDUCTION occurred

Ex. Overall Redox Reaction: F2(aq) + 2 KCl(aq) → 2 KF(aq) + Cl2(aq)

① CIE & NIE: F2(aq) + 2 K+(aq) + 2 Cl–(aq) → 2 K+(aq) + 2 F– (aq) + Cl2(aq)

F2(aq) + 2 Cl–(aq) → 2 F– (aq) + Cl2(aq)

② F2(aq) → 2 F– (aq) ② 2 Cl–(aq) → Cl2(aq)

③ F2(aq ) + 2e– → 2 F– (aq ) ③ 2 Cl–(aq) → Cl2(aq ) + 2e–

reduction ½ rxn oxidation ½ rxn

Note: You may find that you can skip step 1 and go directly to writing the half reactions.
That is fine!