Chemistry for Engineers

REVIEW LESSON:
REDOX REACTIONS

Eddalin Q. Lampawog
Professor
INTENDED LEARNING OURCOME
• Discuss the application of chemistry in relation to
generation of energy
 Unit I: Energy

Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3

Electrochemical Nuclear chemistry and Fuels

energy energy 3.1. Introduction to Fuels
3.2. Properties of Fuel
1.1. Voltaic cells 2.1. Natural Radioactivity
Oil
1.2. Standard voltages 2.2. Writing a Balanced
3.3. Coal and Gas
1.3. Electrolytic cells Nuclear Equation
3.4. Principles of Combustion
1.4. Commercial cells 2.3. Properties of Radioisotopes
2.4. Nuclear Power
Review Lesson:
Redox Reactions
 Redox (Reduction-Oxidation Reaction)

• also considered as electron-transfer reactions

• common example is rusting of iron
Oxidation
-loss of electrons
-substance becomes positively charged
Reduction
-gain of electrons
-substances becomes negatively charged
Redox (Reduction-Oxidation Reaction)

Oxidation
Is
Losing electrons
Reduction
Is
Gaining electrons
 Oxidation Number
• also called as oxidation state
• total number of electrons that an atom either gains or loses
• elements losing electrons, oxidation number increases
• elements gaining electrons, oxidation number decreases
• From the given example:
at cathode
0 -2 -2 x 2 = -4, 4 electrons gained

O2(g)+4H+(aq)+4e−→2H2O(l)
+1 +1
 Oxidation Number
• From the given example:
at anode
0 +2 2 electrons lost

Fe(s) → Fe2+(aq)+2e−

• to balance the number of electrons lost and gained, 2 coefficient is added to Fe

2Fe(s) → 2Fe2+(aq)+4e−
• combining reduction and oxidation reactions
O2(g)+4H+(aq)+4e−→2H2O(l)2Fe(s)+O2(g)+4H+(aq)→2Fe2+(aq)+2H2O(l)
 Oxidation Number

• combining reduction and oxidation reactions

O2(g)+4H+(aq)+4e− → 2H2O(l)

+ 2Fe(s) → 2Fe2+(aq)+4e−

2Fe(s)+O2(g)+4H+(aq)→2Fe2+(aq)+2H2O(l)
 Oxidation Number
The Fe2+ ions produced in the initial reaction are then further oxidized
by atmospheric oxygen to produce the insoluble hydrated oxide
containing Fe3+, as represented in the following equation:

4Fe2+(aq)+O2(g)+(2+4x)H2O→2Fe2O3⋅xH2O+4H+(aq)
 Oxidation Number
Rules for assigning oxidation numbers:
1) For an atom in its elemental form, the oxidation number is always zero.
Example: O2(g) , Mg (s)
2) For any monatomic ion the oxidation number equals the ionic charge. Like in
metals, oxidation number is equal to its group number.
Example: K+, Mg2+
3) Nonmetals usually have negative oxidation numbers.
Oxygen is usually -2 in charge except in peroxides (containing O22-) in
which oxygen is -1.
Fluorine is always -1 in charge in its compounds. Other halogens
(Cl, Br, and I) have negative oxidation numbers as halide ions in their
compounds. However, when combined with oxygen—for example in oxoacids
and oxoanions (ex. HOCl, BrO-)—they have positive oxidation numbers. HOCl,
Cl has +1 charge; BrO-, Br has +1 charge
 Oxidation Number
Rules for assigning oxidation numbers:
Hydrogen is usually +1 when bonded to nonmetals and
-1 when bonded to metals.
4) The sum of the oxidation numbers of all atoms in a neutral compound is zero.
Example: H2O, (+1 x 2) + (-2) = 0
The sum of the oxidation numbers of a polyatomic ion equals to the charge
of the ion.
Example: CO32-, (+4) + (3x-2) = -2
 Balancing Redox Reactions

• Methods:
a) oxidation state
b) half reactions
• For example:
What happens when magnesium strip is added to aqueous
solution of hydrochloric acid?

Mg(s) + HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

STEPS IN OXIDATION STATE METHOD:
1) Write the unbalanced equation.

Mg(s) + HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

2) Determine the oxidation states of all atoms in the reactants and

products.
-1 -1

0 +2

Mg(s) + HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0
STEPS IN OXIDATION STATE METHOD:

3) Show electrons gained and lost using “tie lines.”

-1 -1 (no change in charge)

0 +2 (lost 2 electrons)

Mg(s) + HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0 (gained 1 electron)
STEPS IN OXIDATION STATE METHOD:

4) Use coefficients to equalize the number of electrons lost and

gained.

0 +2 (lost 2 electrons)

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0 (gained 1 electron,
multiply by 2)
STEPS IN OXIDATION STATE METHOD:

5) Balance the rest of the equation by inspection

Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

oxidized: Mg(s) oxidizing agent: H+(aq)

reduced: H+(aq) reducing agent: Mg(s)

no. of electrons lost and gained: 2

Questions ??
STEPS IN HALF-REACTION METHOD IN NEUTRAL SOLUTION:
1) Write the unbalanced ionic equation.

Mg(s) + HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Mg(s) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) Mg2+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + H2(g)

2) Write separate half-reactions for the oxidation and the reduction

processes. Determine the oxidation numbers first
0 -1 +2 -1

Mg(s) + H+(aq) + Cl-(aq) Mg2+(aq) + Cl-(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0
STEPS:

Oxidation:
Mg(s) Mg2+(aq)
Reduction:
H+(aq) H2(g)
3) Balance the atoms in the half-reactions . In this case, coefficient 2
is added to hydrogen ion.

Mg(s) Mg2+(aq)

2H+(aq) H2(g)
STEPS:

4) Balance the charges by adding electrons to each half-reaction. For

the oxidation half-reaction, the electrons will need to be added to
the product side. For the reduction half-reaction, the electrons will
be added to the reactant side.
Oxidation: 0 +2 lost two electrons

Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2 e
Reduction:
+1 x 2 0 gained two electrons

2H+(aq) + 2e H2(g)
STEPS:

5) Add the two half-reactions together. The electrons must cancel.

Mg(s) Mg2+(aq) + 2 e
++
2H (aq) + 2e H2(g)
Net Ionic
Equation: Mg(s) + 2H+(aq Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)

Therefore,
Oxidized: Mg(s) Oxidizing agent: H+(aq)
Reduced: H+(aq) Reducing agent: Mg(s)
QUESTION!
How is it possible that a metal is oxidized by an acid or any particular
salt? Such as in the given example,
Mg(s) + 2HCl(aq) MgCl2(aq) + H2(g)

Mg(s) + 2H+(aq) Mg2+(aq) + H2(g)

Magnesium strip was oxidized by

hydrogen ion in HCl.

Refer to the Activity Series!

 Activity Series
• list of metals arranged in order of decreasing ease of oxidation
• metals at the top of the table are the most easily oxidized (active
metals such as alkali metals and the alkaline earth metals)
• metals at the bottom are less reactive (noble metals such as
transition elements from groups 8B and 1B)
• Rule!
Any metal on the list can be oxidized by the ions of elements below it.

Thus from the given example, magnesium is oxidized by hydrogen.

Another example:
Write the balanced net ionic redox reaction using the oxidation
state method for the reaction of aluminum with hydrobromic acid.
Identify the substance oxidized and reduced, oxidizing and reducing
agents and number of electrons lost and gained.

Al(s) + HBr(aq)
STEPS:
1) Write the unbalanced equztion. Single replacement
First, complete the reaction. reaction
Al(s) + HBr(aq) AlBr3(aq) + H2(g) Base on activity series,
aluminum can be
oxidized by hydrogen.
STEPS:
1) Write the unbalanced equation.

Al(s) + HBr(aq) AlBr3(aq) + H2(g)

2) Determine the oxidation states of all atoms in the reactants and

-1 -1
products.
0 +3

Al(s) + HBr(aq) AlBr3(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0
STEPS:
3) Show electrons gained and lost using “tie lines.”
-1 -1 (no change in charge)

0 +3 (lost 3 electrons)

Al(s) + HBr(aq) AlBr3(aq) + H2(g)

+1 0 (gained 1 electron
per hydrogen atom)
 STEPS:
4) Use coefficients to equalize the number of electrons lost and
gained.
0 +3 (lost 3 electrons, multiply by 2)

2Al(s) + 6HBr(aq) 2AlBr3(aq) + 3H2(g) (3 is added as coefficient since

there are 2 hydrogen atoms in
+1 H2 molecule) 0
(gained 1 electrons per hydrogen atom, multiply by 6)
 STEPS:
5) Balance the rest of the equation by inspection.

2Al(s) + 6HBr(aq) 2AlBr3(aq) + 3H2(g)

Therefore,
Oxidized: Al(s) Oxidizing agent: H+(aq)
Reduced: H+(aq) Reducing agent: Al(s)
Activity 2.1

A. Balance the equation using oxidation state method.

Identify the substances oxidized and reduced, oxidizing and
reducing agents, and number of electrons lost and gained.
1. Mg(s) + AgNO3(aq) Mg(NO3)2(aq) + Ag(s)

2. N2O(g) N2(g) + O2(g)

3. S(s) + F2(g) SF6(g)

B. Balance the equation using half-reaction method in neutral
solution. Identify the substances oxidized and reduced,
oxidizing and reducing agents, and number of electrons lost
and gained.
1. Zn(s) + CuSo4(aq) ZnSO4(aq) + Cu(s)

2. Mg(s) + SiCl4(aq) MgCl2(aq) + Si(s)

3. Cu(s) + AgNO3(aq) Cu(NO3)2(aq) + Ag(s)