Redox Reactions

Redox Reactions
• A redox reaction is a type of chemical reaction in which a transfer of
electrons from one substance to another causes a change in their
oxidation states.

• The term redox is used since the reaction is composed of two

simultaneous chemical reactions - reduction and oxidation. In these
two simultaneous reactions, we must remember that no reaction
happens alone. (If reduction happens, oxidation should also happen)
Reduction
• This is a chemical reaction that involves the gaining of electrons by one of
the atoms involved in the chemical reaction.
• When the atom gains electrons, it becomes more negatively charged and
a decrease in oxidation number is observed.
• The substance which gained electrons has been reduced and the
substance where the electron comes from is called the reducing agent.

RDG
(Reduction, Decrease in oxidation number, Gain of e-)
Oxidation
• This is a chemical reaction that involves the losing of electrons by one
of the atoms involved in the chemical reaction.
• When the atom loses electrons, it becomes more positively charged
and an increase of oxidation number is observed.
• The substance which lost electrons has been oxidized and the
substance where the electron goes is the oxidizing agent.

OIL
(Oxidation, Increase in oxidation number, Loss of e-)
• We can see in the figure on
the right that particle A lost
an electron to form A+.
• The lost electron was gained
by particle B to form B−.
Notes to remember:
• When particle A lost an electron, its oxidation number was increased
to form the A+ ion.
• When particle B gained an electron, its oxidation number was
decreased to form the B− ion.

1. Particle A was oxidized. It is the reducing agent causing particle B

to undergo reduction.
2. Particle B was reduced. It is the oxidizing agent causing particle A
to undergo oxidation.
Balancing Redox Reactions
Law of Conservation of Mass

The amount of each element must be the same

on both sides of the equation
Balancing Redox Reactions

• In addition to the mentioned law, the gains and losses of electrons

must also be balanced in redox equations.
Half-equation Method

• A half reaction shows the reactants, products and electrons transferred

for either an oxidation or a reduction.
Consider this equation:

CuCl2(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+AlCl3(aq)

• Oxidation numbers on reactants side: Cu = +2, Cl = -1, Al = 0

• Oxidation numbers on products side: Cu = 0, Cl = -1, Al = +3
• Cu2+ is reduced to Cu and Al is oxidized to as Al3+
• Since CuCl2 and AlCl3 are dissociated into ions in solutions, we can
rewrite the equation into:

Cu2+(aq)+Cl−(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)+Cl−(aq)

• The chloride ions, Cl−(aq), appear on both sides of the equation

(without changes in their oxidation states). They are called spectator
ions and can be omitted from the equation.
• Therefore,

Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• At first look it might appear that the equation is already balanced but it is actually
not because the total charge on the left is +2 and that on the right is +3, which
violates the principle of the conservation of charge. So we have to do further work on
this equation to balance both the atoms and the charges.
Steps in Balancing Redox Equation

1. Assign Oxidation numbers to each of the elements in the reaction.

2. Write two unbalanced half-equations, one for the species that is

oxidized and its product and one for the species that is reduced and its
product.

3. Balance the atoms of each element being oxidized or reduced.

Steps in Balancing Redox Equation

4. Multiply the oxidation number by the number of atoms that have that
oxidation number. This is the total oxidation number or total charge.

5. Balance the oxidation number by adding electrons on the more

positive side of the half-equation.
Note: For the oxidation half-equation, the electrons are always added on the products side of the
equation since electrons are lost. For the reduction half-equation, the electrons are always added
on the reactants side of the equation since electrons are gained.
Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions

6. Make the number of electrons on both half-equations equal by

multiplying them with certain factors.

7. Add the two half-equations in such as a way as to eliminate electrons.

8. Check if the number of atoms of each element are equal on both side
of the equation and the total charge on both sides are equal.
Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in acidic solutions)

1. Repeat Steps 1-5.

2. Add H+ to balance the charges.

3. Add water molecules to the side missing an Oxygen atom (if

necessary)
Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in acidic solutions)

4. Make sure that the Oxygen atom is balanced.

5. Continue steps 6-8 and subtract the same atoms found on both sides
of the equation.
Steps in Balancing Redox Reactions (in basic solutions)
1. Do you what you did when you balance redox reactions in acidic solutions.

2. Once you get the final equation, add the same number of OH- ions both sides of the
equations.

3. Add the H+ and OH- to create water molecules.

4. Subtract the same elements found on both sides of the equation.

5. Make sure that the atoms and the charges are balanced.
Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• Step 1:
Oxidation number on the reactants’ side: Cu = +2; Al = 0
Oxidation number on the products’ side: Cu = 0; Al = +3

• Step 2
Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
Al(aq) → Al3+(aq)
Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• Step 3: Balance the atoms.

(For this equation, all the atoms are already balanced)

• Step 4: Multiply the charges with the number or atoms

Reactants: Cu: 1 (+2) = 2; Al: 1 (0) = 0
Products: Cu: 1 (0) = 0; Al: 1 (+3) = 3
Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• Step 5: Balance the charges.

2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-

• Step 6: Multiply the equations with certain numbers to balance out the
electrons.
(2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)) x 3
(Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-) x 2
Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• Step 5: Balance the charges.

2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)
Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-

• Step 6: Multiply the equations with certain numbers to balance out the
electrons.
(2e- + Cu2+(aq) → Cu(aq)) x 3 = 6e- + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq)
(Al(aq) → Al3+(aq) + 3e-) x 2 = 2Al(aq) → 2Al3+(aq) + 6e-
Cu2+(aq)+Al(s)→Cu(s)+Al3+(aq)

• Step 7: Add the equations to cancel the electrons

6e- + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq)
2Al(aq) → 2Al3+(aq) + 6e-

• Step 8: Copy the remaining elements in the equation and double check
if both atoms and charges are balanced.
2Al(aq) + 3Cu2+(aq) → 3Cu(aq) + 2Al3+(aq)
*atoms and charges are already balanced