4/1/2012 3:41:00 PM Test 3 Chemistry OIL RIG Oxidation Is Loss Reduction is Gain 2Na + Cl2 => Na+ + Cl-

+ Na+ + Cl2Na + Cl2 => 2NaCl Because elemental sodium and chlorine contain uncharged atoms and because sodium chloride is known to contain Na+ and Cl- ions, this reaction must involve a transfer of electrons from sodium atoms to chlorine atoms. Such reactions, in which one or more electrons are transferred, are redox reactions. Oxidation = loss of electrons. Reduction = gain of electrons. Whenever a metal reacts with a nonmetal to form an ionic compound, electrons are transferred from metal to nonmetal. Metal is oxidized (loses electrons) and nonmetal is reduced (gains electrons) Oxidation States Oxidation states/numbers let you keep track of electrons in redox reactions by assigning charges to the various atoms in a compound. In binary compounds, the redox states are simply the charges of the ions. Sodium is +1, chlorine is -1 Magnesium is +2, oxygen is -2 When elements are uncombined, all atoms are uncharged, neutral. So an atom in a pure element has state of zero. In covalent compounds like water, we assign imaginary charges to elements, which are equal to oxidation states. We determine them by assuming that the most electronegative atom in a bond controls BOTH of the shared electrons. In the OH bonds of water, the oxygen atom controls both of the shared electrons in each bond. This gives oxygen 8 valence electrons.

We say that each H has lost its single electron to the O. Each H now has oxidation state +1 and each O now has oxidation state -2. Both of these tend to be constant in most cases. Remember: elements on the right of the scale are the most electronegative. F > O > N > Cl -1 > -1 > -2 > -3 Fluorine is assumed to control any shared electrons, and have a complete octet. Rules for Assigning Oxidation States 1. The oxidation state of an atom in an uncombined element is 0. 2. The oxidation state of a monoatomic ion is the same as its charge. 3. Oxygen is assigned an oxidation state of -2 in most covalent compounds. Important exception: peroxides (compounds that contain the O22- group) in which each oxygen is assigned oxidation state of -1. 4. In its covalent compounds with nonmetals, hydrogen is assigned an oxidation state of +1. 5. In binary compounds, the element with greater electronegativity is assigned a negative oxidation state equal to its charge as an anion in its ionic compounds. 6. For an electrically neutral compound, the sum of the oxidation states must be zero. For an ionic species, the sum of the oxidation states must equal the overall charge. Redox Rxns Between Nonmetals CH4(g) + 2O2(g) => CO2(g) + 2H2O(g) In the combustion of methane, C undergoes change in oxidation state from -4 in CH4 to +4 in CO2. The change is accounted for by the loss of 8 electrons. CH4 => CO2 + 8e-4 +4

Each oxygen changes from an oxidation state of 0 in O2 to -2 in H2O and CO2, signifying the gain of 2 electrons per atom. 4 oxygen atoms are involved so this is a gain of 8 electrons. 2O2 + 8e- => CO2 + 2H2O 0 4(-2) =-8 No change occurs in the oxidation state of hydrogen and it is not involved in the electron transfer process. Oxidation= increase in oxidation state (loss of electrons) Reduction= decrease in oxidation state (gain of electrons) An oxidizing agent is reduced and a reducing agent is oxidized. In 2Na(s) + Cl2(g) => 2NaCL(s) Na is oxidized and Cl is reduced. Cl2 is called the oxidizing agent (electron acceptor) and Na is called the reducing agent (electron donor). In terms of compounds, the oxidizing agent = reactant containing the element that is reduced. Reducing agent = reactant containing the element that is oxidized. In CH4(g) + 2O2(g) => CO2(g) 2H2O(g) -4 +1 0 +4 -2 +1 -2 1. Carbon is oxidized because it has lost electrons in going from -4 to +4. 2. This makes CH4 the reducing agent because it contains the carbon that is oxidized. It furnishes the electrons that are lost by the carbon. 3. Oxygen is reduced because it goes from 0 to -2. 4. This makes O2 the oxidizing agent because it contains the oxygen that is reduced. It accepts the electrons. When an oxidizing or reducing agent is named, the whole compound is specified, not just the element that undergoes the change in oxidation state.

Balancing Redox Rxns by the Half-Reaction method

To balance the redox reactions that occur in aqueous solutions, we separate the reaction into 2 half-reactions. Half reactions are equations that have electrons as reactants or products. One half-reaction represents a reduction process and the other half-reaction represents an oxidation process. In a reduction half reaction, electrons are on the reactant side (gained by reactant). In an oxidation half reaction, electrons are on product side (lost by reactant in equation). Number of electrons lost (from reactant that is oxidized) must be equal to number of electrons gained (from reactant that is reduced). Ce4+(aq) + Sn2+(aq) => Ce3+(aq) + Sn4+(aq) e- + Ce4+(aq) => Ce3+(aq) : reduction half reaction Sn2+(aq) => Sn4+(aq) + 2e- : oxidation half reaction 1 electrons is gained by each Ce4+ while 2 electrons are lost by each Sn4+. We have to make it so they are equal => 2e- + 2Ce4+(aq) => 2Ce3+(aq) Then add. . . 2e- + 2Ce4+(aq) + Sn2+(aq) => 2Ce3+(aq) + Sn4+(aq) + 2e= 2Ce4+(aq) + Sn2+(aq) => 2Ce3+(aq) + Sn4+(aq) 1. Separate the reaction into an oxidation half-reaction and a reduction half-reaction 2. Balance the half-reactions separately 3. Equalize the number of electrons gained and lost 4. Add the half-reactions together and cancel electrons to give the overall balanced equation Most redox rxns occur in solutions that are distinctly basic or distinctly acidic. The Half Reaction Method for Balancing Equations for Oxidation-Reduction Reactions Occurring in Acidic Solution

1. Identify and write the equations for the oxidation and reduction halfreactions 2. For each half-reaction: a. Balance all of the elements except hydrogen and oxygen. b. Balance oxygen using H2O c. Balance hydrogen using H+ d. Balance the charge using electrons 3. If necessary, multiply one or both balanced half reactions by an integer to equalize the number of electrons transferred in the two half reactions 4. Add the half-reactions and cancel identical species that appear on both sides 5. Check to be sure the elements and charges balance

4/1/2012 3:41:00 PM

4/1/2012 3:41:00 PM