Describe what is happening here

Redox 1 – Electron transfer

B4 Mid End
C Can I calculate the oxidation number of a
compound and ion?

Can I explain oxidation and reduction in

B terms of electron transfer?

A Can I balance metal redox equations?

 OXIDATION STATES
C
Used to... tell if oxidation or reduction has taken place
work out what has been oxidised and/or reduced
construct half equations and balance redox equations

ATOMS AND SIMPLE IONS

The number of electrons which must be added or removed to become neutral

atoms Na in Na = 0 neutral already ... no need to add any electrons

cations Na in Na+ = +1 need to add 1 electron to make Na+ neutral
anions Cl in Cl¯ = -1 need to take 1 electron away to make Cl¯ neutral

Q. What are the oxidation states of the elements in the following?

a) C b) Fe3+ c) Fe2+

d) O2- e) He f) Al3+

10/11/2023 Edexcel As Chem Unit 2 Topic 2.4 3

Lesson 1
Oxidation (valence) number rules
C
1. Make sure that the equation is balanced
2. Oxygen is usually -2. Oxygen is always -1 in peroxides such
as Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and is +2 in when with F.
3. Halogens are usually -1
4. H is +1 as H+ and in molecules (e.g. H2O)
5. Elements in their standard states are zero (e.g. Cl2, H2, C)
6. The more electronegative species (usually oxygen) has a
negative oxidation number
7. Halogens can have positive oxygen states when combined
with oxygen (e.g. chlorate compounds (ClO3- used in
bleach, bromate, iodate)
8. Chlorine is positive when combined with Fluorine (F).
9. Ions: the sum of the individual element oxidation number
Compounds
C
“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each
element equals the overall charge on the species”

Fe2O3

Fe + O =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Example 1 – Simple neutral species (molecules, compounds)
C
Work out the oxidation number of each element in this
reaction

Mg + 2HCl  MgCl2 + H2

Mg Mg

H H

Cl Cl
Ions

“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each

element equals the overall charge on the species”

C2O4-2

C + O =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Example 2 (harder!) – Charged species (ions)
C- B
Work out the oxidation number of each element in this
reaction

C2O4-2  CO2

C C

O O
 REDUCTION in O.S. INCREASE in O.S.
C
Species has been REDUCED Species has been OXIDISED

Q. State for each element if it has been oxidised (O), reduced (R) or neither (N)

Fe2+ —> Fe3+

I2 —> I¯
F2 —> F2O
C2O42- —> CO2
H2O2 —> O2
H2O2 —> H2O
Cr2O72- —> Cr3+
Cr2O72- —> CrO42-
SO42- —> SO2

Edexcel As Chem Unit 2 Topic 2.4

10/11/2023 9
Lesson 1
 C
Q. Give the oxidation state of the element other than O, H or F in...
SO2 NH3 NO2 NH4+ IF7 Cl2O7
NO3¯ NO2¯ SO32- S2O32- S4O62- MnO42-

What is odd about the value of the oxidation state of S in S 4O62- ?

Edexcel As Chem Unit 2 Topic 2.4

10/11/2023 10
Lesson 1
Explain oxidation and reduction in terms of
electron transfer. You may include oxidation B
states in your answer.
Ions
B
“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each
element equals the overall charge on the species”

NH4+1

N + H =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Ions
B
“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each
element equals the overall charge on the species”

Cr2O7-2

Cr + O =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Compounds
B
“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each
element equals the overall charge on the species”

H2O

H + O =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Compounds
B
“The sum of the oxidation numbers for each atom of each
element equals the overall charge on the species”

Cr2O3

Cr + O =

+ =

+ =

+ =
Explain oxidation and reduction in terms of
electron transfer. You may include oxidation B
states in your answer.

(NH4)2Cr2O7  N2 + 4H2O + Cr2O3

N N

H H

Cr Cr

O O
Balancing metal redox equations
Ag + Sn  Ag + Sn
+ 2+ A
1. Write half equations for each metal

Ag+ + e-  Ag Sn – 2e- Sn2+

2. Multiply each half equation so that they both have the
same number of electrons

2Ag+ + 2e-  2Ag Sn – 2e- Sn2+

3. Combine the half equations by adding so that the
electrons cancel out
2Ag+ + 2e-  2Ag
+
Sn – 2e-  Sn2+
2Ag+ + Sn  2Ag + Sn2+
Balancing metal redox equations
A
Balance these metal redox equations. Show clearly all your
working.

1. Ag + Cu2+  Ag+ + Cu

2. Al + Mn2+  Al3+ + Mn

3. Fe3+ + Sn2+  Fe2+ + Sn4+