Redox Reactions: Prepared By: Reno Emmanuel C. Pajigal

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REDOX REACTIONS
Prepared by: Reno Emmanuel C. Pajigal
Define oxidation and
reduction reactions.
COMPETENCIES
Identify the reaction
occurringin the different
parts of the cell.
REDOX REACTIONS
An oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction

is a type of chemical reaction that
involves a transfer of electrons between
two species.
3 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX
An oxidation-reduction reaction is any
chemical reaction in which the oxidation
number of a molecule, atom, or ion
changes by gaining or losing an
electron.
Redox is also the basic reaction involved
in the two most important life-sustaining
processes – respiration and
photosynthesis.
Decay and burning of fuel are also redox
reactions. Agents of oxidation such as
chlorine and ozone have been used to
destroy microorganisms in water.
DEFINITION OF REDOX
Oxidation and reduction reactions

always occur simultaneously. This
means that if one substance is oxidized,
another substance must be reduced.
The term “oxidation” was
first introduced when
Antoine Lavoisier discovered
oxygen and proposed
the theory of combustion.
A combination between any substance
and oxygen has since been described as
an oxidation process.
Consequently, the accompanying
process which involves gaining of
electrons is called reduction.
Hence, “redox” is viewed as a reaction
involving the transfer of electrons from
the atom that oxidized to the atom that is
reduced.
An example that clearly shows electron
transfer takes place in the reaction
where Zinc (Zn) gives up 2e- and
becomes Zn and in turn , Copper (Cu )
+2 +2
is converted to Cu upon gaining 2e-.

o
Although reduction and oxidation take
place simultaneously, it is often
convenient to consider them as separate
processes and can be represented as
two-half reactions.
Oxidation: Zn o
Zn +2e-
+2
Reduction: Cu +2e-
+2
Cu o

But later studies showed that oxidation-
reduction reactions do not always
involve loss or gain of electrons.
A great example of this is the combustion
of hydrogen.
H2 + 02 H2O
Since H2O is an ionic substance,
complete transfer od electron does not
really occur, yet H2 has been oxidized and
oxygen has been reduced.
This gives rise to a new concept which
extends the definition of oxidation and
reduction to reactions where electrons
are not actually lost or gained.
This is what we call the “oxidation
number concept” which defines
oxidation as a reaction wherein an atom
or ion undergoes an increase in
oxidation number while
reduction is a reaction wherein an atom
or ion undergoes a decrease in the
oxidation number.
The substance that makes it possible for
another substance to oxidized is called
an “oxidizing agent” or “oxidant”.
On the other hand, the “reducing agent”
or “reductant” is oxidized in the process
by giving up its electrons to the
substance it will reduce.
Oxidation = involves increase in
oxidation number or loss of electrons.
Reduction = involves decrease in

oxidation number or gain of electrons
Oxidizing agent = substance reduced;
undergoes a decrease in oxidation
number.
Reducing agent = substance oxidized;

undergoes an increase in oxidation
number.
The oxidation number is a concept that
helps in determining quickly whether the
substance is undergoing oxidation or
reduction.
Oxidation number is also called valence
or oxidation state. It is the electrical
charge assigned to an atom according to
a prescribed set of rules.
GUIDELINES
1. The oxidation state of a free and

uncombined element is zero.
e.g. (Magnesium) Mg , H2 , (Sulfur) S8 , C

o o o o
2. The usual oxidation state of:
A) Hydrogen is +1, except in metallic
hydrides, e.g. (Lithium hydride) Li H
+1 -1
B) Oxygen is -2, except in peroxides

where it is -1, e.g. (Hydrogen peroxide) H2
+1
o2 -1
c) Elements under group IA is +1, IIA is +2,
and IIIA is +3, e.g. Na , Mg , Al
+1 +2 +3

3. In a compound, the algebraic sum of
the total positive and negative oxidation
numbers is always equal to zero.
Example: In (Potassium chlorate) KClO3,
the state of K = +1 and O = -2
Let x = oxidation state of Cl
Upon substitution: +1 + x (3)(-2) = 0
+1 + x -6 =0
<x = +5>
4. The algebraic sum of the positive and
negative oxidation states of all atoms in
an ion is equal to the charge of the ion.
Example: In ClO3 , the oxidation state of O
-1
is -2
Let x = oxidation state of Cl
Upon substitution: x – [(3)(-2)] = -1
x+6 = -1
<x = +5>
Note that the oxidation number of Cl,
whether it is in the compound KClO3 or in
ClO3 ion is the same, +5.
-1

To determine, whether the chemical
reaction is an oxidation reduction
reaction, assign the oxidation state of
each element and find out if there are
elements that undergo changes in
Oxidation number. The following
examples show the difference between a
redox and a non-redox reaction.

Example 1: Mg + 2HCl MgCl2 + H2
0 +1 -1 +2 -1 0
Magnesium’s oxidation number has
increased, so it has been oxidized. If
Magnesium has been oxidized, then
hydrogen must have been reduced.
Example 2: CaCO3+2HCl CaCl2+CO2+H2O
+2+4-2 +1 -1 +2 -1 +4-2 +1 -2
The oxidation numbers stay the same, so
its not a redox reaction.
BALANCING REDOX REACTIONS
There are two ways of balancing

oxidation-reduction reactions. The first
method is based on the change in
oxidation number while the second one
is the ion-electron method.
We will use this reaction for both of our
examples:
K2Cr2O7+S+H2O SO2+KOH+Cr2O3
Potassium dichromate - K2Cr2O7
Sulfur dioxide - SO2
Potassium dioxide - KOH
Chromium oxide
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- Cr2O3 MM.DD.20XX
A. BALANCE BY OXIDATION NUMBER
1. Assign the oxidation numbers of the

elements in the chemical equation.
K2Cr2O7+S+H2O SO2+KOH+Cr2O3
Ox.+1 +6 -2 0 +1-2 +4-2+1-2+1+3-2
2. Determine which elements undergo
changes in oxidation state. There are two
elements that undergo changes, which is
S and Cr.
3. Determine the total increase and
decrease in oxidation numbers. From S 0
to S , it increased by 4 per S or
+4,
electrons lost.
From Cr to Cr , it has decreased by 3
+6 +3
per Cr, but since there are 2 Cr atoms, the

total decrease is 3x2=6 or 6 electrons
gained.
4. Equalize the increase and decrease by
figuring out the proper multiplier which
will become the new coefficients in the
reaction.
For the sample equation, equalize 4
electrons lost and 6 electrons gained. To
do this, multiply by the lowest possible
integers or multipliers that will give the
same product.
The multipliers become the coefficients.
4 e- lost by S x 3 = 12
6 e- lost by Cr x 2 = 12

3 is the new coefficient of S and 2 is the
new coefficient of Cr.
The resulting equation is
2K2Cr2O7+3S+H2O 3SO2+KOH+2Cr2O3
5. Finish balancing by conting the
number of atoms of each element then
adjusting the coefficients until the same
number of atoms are found on both sides
of the equation.
Usually oxygen is counted last. The
balanced equation is
2K2Cr2O7+3S+2H2O 3SO2+4KOH+2Cr2O3\
The oxidizing agent is K2Cr2O7 since Cr is
reduced from +6 to +3. The reducing
agent is S since it is oxidized form 0 to
+4.
THANK YOU!
August Bergqvist
Phone:
678-555-0134
Email:
bergqvist@treyresearch.com
Website:
http://www.treyresearch.net/

Redox Reactions: Prepared By: Reno Emmanuel C. Pajigal

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An oxidation-reduction (redox) reaction

Oxidation and reduction reactions

is converted to Cu upon gaining 2e-.

15 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

Reduction = involves decrease in

Reducing agent = substance oxidized;

1. The oxidation state of a free and

e.g. (Magnesium) Mg , H2 , (Sulfur) S8 , C

B) Oxygen is -2, except in peroxides

31 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

36 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

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There are two ways of balancing

1. Assign the oxidation numbers of the

per Cr, but since there are 2 Cr atoms, the

49 ADD A FOOTER MM.DD.20XX

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