Grade 12

CAPE Chemistry Module 1

REDOX
OBJECTIVES
• Explain redox reactions in terms of electron
transfer and change in oxidation state

• Construct half equations from redox

reactions

• Deduce balanced redox reactions from half

equations

• Determine order of oxidizing or reducing

ability ( experimentally and theoretically)
Explain redox reactions in terms of electron
transfer and change in oxidation state

• Oxidation is • Reduction is
• -loss of electrons • -gain of
• -increase in electrons
oxidation • -decrease in
number oxidation
• -gain of oxygen number
• -loss of hydrogen • -loss of oxygen
• -gain of hydrogen
Examples of redox
reactions
• Rusting of iron
• Combustion
• Respiration
• Photosynthesis
• Purification of ores
• Hydrogenation of fats
• Breathalyzer test etc
How to Calculate
oxidation numbers
• 1. Oxidation numbers of elements in their free state is
zero eg Cu 0, H2 0, S8 0

• 2. The charge on a simple ion is equal to it’s oxidation

number eg Al+3

• 3. Sometimes the oxidation state is given in the name

eg iron(II) oxide, potassium manganate (VII)

• 4. The sum of the oxidation numbers of all the elements

in a compound is equal to zero

• 5. The sum of the oxidation numbers of the elements in a

polyatomic ion is equal to the charge on the ion
Common oxidation
states and exceptions
• Group I and II ions have oxidation states of +1 and +2
respectively

• O-2 except in peroxides (H2O2, Na2O2) these have a charge

of O-1

• H+ except in metal hydrides (eg NaH, CaH2) these have a

charge of H-1

• S-2, Cl-, I- except in covalent compound and polyatomic

ions

• Transition metals have variable oxidation states eg Fe 2+

and Fe 3+
Calculate the oxidation state of
the highlighted elements in each
of the following
• SO2 • S2O3 2-

• SO3 • C2O4 2-

• SO4 2-
• ClO4 -

• K2Cr2O7 • Eu2 (CO3)3

• Cr2 (SO4)3 • C3H8
• (NH4)2 Fe(SO4)2
Identifying oxidizing and
reducing agent using
oxidation numbers
• 1. Balance the equation

• 2. Break soluble ionic compounds into ions

• 3. Remove the spectator ions

• 4. Calculate the oxidation states of the remaining

elements

• 5. Compare oxidation states ie if it

increases( reducing agent) and if it decreases
( oxidizing agent)
Identify the oxidizng and
reducing agents in each of
the following
• C + O2 → CO2
• NaOH + HCl → NaCl + H2O
• Cr2O7 2- + 14H+ + 6Fe 2+ → 2Cr 3+ + 7 H2O + 6 Fe 3+
• 2H2O2 → 2H2O + O2
• CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2O
Deduce balanced redox
reactions from half equations

• Compare the number of electrons in

both equations
• Find the LCM of those numbers and
multiply the equations by a number
in order to eliminate the number of
electrons from the final equation eg
• Na → Na + + e
• Cl2 + 2e → 2 Cl-
Combining two half
equations
• The LCM of 2 and 1 is 2. To eliminate
the electrons multiply the 1st
equation by 2. Then add them.
• 2(Na → Na + + 1e)
• Cl2 + 2e → 2 Cl-
• 2Na + Cl2 + 2e → 2Na + + 2e + 2 Cl-

• Answer :2Na + Cl2 → 2Na + + 2 Cl-

Construct balanced ionic
equations using the
following
• Eqn 1 : 2I- → I2 + 2e
• Eqn 2 : MnO4 - + 8H+ + 5e → Mn 2+ + 4H2O
• Eqn 3 : Zn → Zn 2+ + 2e
• Eqn 4 : C2O42- → 2CO2 + 2e
• Eqn 5 : IO3 - + 6H+ + 5e → ½ I2 + 3 H2O
• Eqn 6 : Sn 2+ → Sn 4+ + 2e
Determine order of oxidizing or
reducing ability ( experimentally
and theoretically)
Redox potentials
Construct half equations from redox
reactions
( Neutral reactions)

• Split into respective ions

• Determine how many electrons
each needs to lose or gain
• Write balanced half equations
• CuSO4 + Zn → ZnSO4 + Cu
Constructing half
equations with the
addition of acid
• 1. Separate the half reactions
• 2.Balance elements other then O and H
• 3. Add water to either side of both
equations to balance oxygen
• 4.Balance hydrogen by adding H+
• 5. Balance the charge by adding electrons
on either side

• Eg Cr2O7 2- + HNO2 → Cr 3+ + NO3 -

Construct half equations
on addition of bases
• 1. Separate the half reactions
• 2.Balance elemente other than O and H
• 3. Balance O and H by addition of water
on both equations if necessary
• 4. Balance the hydrogens by addition of
H+ on either or both equations
( whichever side)
• 5. Balance charges with electrons
• 6 If there is H+ on the RHS add –OH to
both sides to form water.
Write half-reactions for the oxidation and
reduction process for each of the following.

• a. Fe 2+
+ MnO4 -→ Fe 3+
+ Mn 2+

• b. Sn 2+
+ IO 3
-
→ Sn 4+
+ I-
• c. S 2-
+ NO3 - →S + NO